Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 27 August, Uzbekneftegaz, together with its structural subdivision, the Uzbekistan GTL plant, and with the support of the Athletics Federation, organized a night race. 

The event started as part of the drawing of the first cup of the chairman of the board of Uzbekneftegaz JSC and the social project Save Aral - 2022. Structural divisions of Uzbekneftegaz JSC took part in the race: the Uzbekistan GTL plant, the Shurtangaz GPU and the ShGCC (Shurtan gas chemical complex). The sporting event is timed to the upcoming celebration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

For the first time, according to the decision of the organizers, the autumn stage of the Save Aral - 2022 races started not along the usual route along the central streets of the cities of Uzbekistan, but on the adjacent territory of one of the leading industrial enterprises in Central Asia for the production of synthetic fuel - the Uzbekistan GTL plant, located in Guzar district of Kashkadarya region.

The collaboration of sports and high technologies for the implementation of tasks in the field of social and environmental partnership was proposed by the new leadership of the Athletics Federation. In February 2022, Mekhriddin Abdullayev, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekneftegaz, became a head of Athletics Federation.

“Holding the Save-2022 charity run and the first Cup of the Chairman of the Board of Uzbekneftegaz JSC in the surrounding area around the Uzbekistan GTL plant is an excellent initiative to involve a large team of the enterprise in active mass sports. Taking care of the health of employees and labor protection is a special area of responsibility of the management of Uzbekneftegaz JSC, - said Mekhriddin Abdullayev, - In addition, this is a great opportunity to introduce an important social component into the activity of the advanced industrial enterprise of the republic. I would like to note that the latest international environmental standards have been introduced at the GTL plant, but at present it is important to develop environmental responsibility within the team as well.”

Specialists in the oil and gas sector in their activities regularly come into contact with environmental issues. With great readiness, they joined the environmental campaigns organized on the eve of the Save Aral - 2022 race to improve the Guzar region, adjacent to the Uzbekistan GTL complex. As part of the eco-actions, the Federation and Uzbekneftegaz JSC organized the planting of saxaul and the cleaning of territories from spontaneous household dumps.

Over the years of holding sports events, Save Aral, the main mission of the social project aimed at attracting the attention of the general public to intensifying measures to resolve the Aral Sea crisis and restore the Aral Sea zone, has grown into a large-scale initiative for environmental education and public education.

To maintain the interest of a wide audience, the Athletics Federation regularly offers unusual race formats. Organization the sporting event Save Aral - 2022 at night on the adjacent territory of the unique oil and gas complex also became an interesting solution for attracting participants. The industrial lighting of the Uzbekistan GTL plant made it possible to organize a charity run along a safe route within sight of a dedicated sports track. The finish of the race was the territory of the camp, where employees of the Uzbekistan GTL plant live.

Two thousand people took part in the Save Aral 2022 night run, including employees of the Uzbekistan GTL with their families and specialists from the Shurtangaz GPU and the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex. Athletes and runners from Kashkadarya region, who have repeatedly participated in the Save Aral project, joined the sports event. Each participant was given a headlamp and sports equipment with the image of the drying Aral Sea. The runners who showed the best results were awarded memorable prizes. Participants of the race with special needs were also awarded in separate categories.

The Save Aral project has become one of the most powerful and effective tools for popularizing mass sports in Uzbekistan. For 3 years of holding sports events in large and small cities of Uzbekistan, about 130 thousand people of all ages took part in 35 organized races. Since the beginning of 2022, the Athletics Federation, together with Uzbekneftegaz JSC, has organized 12 races in the Syrdarya, Jizzakh, Navoi, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya and Tashkent regions and the city of Tashkent. As part of the autumn season of Save Aral - 2022, it is planned to hold 8 races, in which any participant who wants to join the sports movement and contribute to environmental protection can take part.

Winners:

Employees of structural divisions of Uzbekneftegaz JSC (men):

1. Primov Hassan 12:30.43

2. Purmanov Mansur 12:31.55

3. Primov Khusan 12:32.46

Employees of structural divisions of Uzbekneftegaz JSC (women):

1.Iemke Stlin (South Africa) 16:08.18

2. Kenjaeva Shirin 16:26.28

3. Tajiyeva Farida 17:02.26

Among the local population (men):

1. Mahmudov Jahangir 12:05.87

2. Juraev Muslimbek 12:15.43

3. Muhammadiev Asilbek 12:16.40

Among the local population (women):

1. Omonova Dilfuz 14:42.56

2. Saidmuradova Shakhi 15:10.57

3. Khukumova Jonbebe 15:40.22