Kun.uz interviews ex-CEO of Zeromax “Odilboy” (Mirodil Jalolov)

He was also seen as one of the most influential people in the country until 2010 as a former CEO of Zeromax.

After a break in the middle, Mirodil Jalolov is currently in charge of Epsilon, a gas company. In 2021, about 3% of Uzbekistan’s natural gas was produced by the same company.

Kun.uz interviewed Mirodil Jalolov about Uzbekistan’s gas reserves, problems with gas supply to the population, and various projects of Epsilon and “Odilboy”, which caused a great stir at that time.

- Before getting an interview, I talked to people who have worked with you for several years. Among them were those who praised “Odilboy” as a good person, and those who described him as a “terrible man”.

Also, according to my research, you are one of the most experienced engineers in the organization of gas production processes in Uzbekistan.

So, Mirodil Jalolov, who is “Odilboy” in actual fact?

- I was born in 1965 in a working-class family in Tashkent. I went to school first, then to the military service. Then I was enrolled in the evening education of the Faculty of Chemical Technology of the Polytechnic Institute. I remember: I used to work in construction during the daytime and attend my classes in the evening.

In 1988, we had a baby. That year I had to take an academic leave from my studies to support my family. I was only able to finish university when I became a father for the third time.

My entry into the gas industry dates back to 1991-92. It was the first years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and Uzbekistan’s independence. The country was facing many problems, such as grain and fuel supply. We were involved in importing fuel from Kazakhstan and Russia into the country during those years when there was a fuel problem.

As a result of tireless work and efforts, after a few years, our small and medium-sized enterprises for the production of food, clothing and other products were launched. That’s how my business started.

Since 2000, we have again focused on the gas industry. At the same time, we have established a company so-called Zeromax.

In 2009, 23 of our joint ventures operated under this enterprise. In addition, we have tested our capabilities by working with petrol stations, oil depots to deliver the products to the population.

In 2005, we were allocated 18,000 hectares of land in Jizzakh and Syrdarya regions. We planted cotton on 13,000 hectares and grain on 5,000 hectares. We also established 8 more sewing and weaving enterprises.

This activity could be evaluated as the first cluster. Because it had the whole process from sowing the seeds to producing the finished product. If I’m not mistaken, in those years a total of 41,515 people worked in our enterprises.

Another figure is that by 2009, we had extracted about 21% of the country’s gas. In the case of liquid hydrocarbon production, our result was 19%. Our tax base was then 56%.

Let me tell you one more thing. There are various rumors about me that “he used people’s money to organize projects”. No, all our social projects are organized at the expense of the profits of the enterprises we have created.

Of course, the country’s underground resources belong to the people and the state. As long as the state entrusts these deposits to us, we must justify that trust with taxes and organized jobs.

Your enrichment should benefit others. Then nobody thinks about you negatively.

- Mr. Mirodil, Uzbekistan is said to be a country rich in gas reserves. How much is our gas reserve?

- In my opinion, the gas fields of Uzbekistan have not yet been fully developed. But I estimate we have at least four to five trillion gas reserves. We have about 400 to 700 billion gas reserves in the blocks attached to our plant. This means it will last 40 years in current use.

But over the years, the demand for solar and wind energy has been massing and squeezing out gas.

- My current question is about the problem that bothers Uzbeks the most. I hope to hear a clear answer to this question from you, unlike industry officials.

Today, many people in Uzbekistan are dissatisfied with gas supplies. With the onset of autumn, the weather in villages and mahallas, in the regions, cools sharply and families are forced to cram into one room of the house with dozens of members. But heating this house is also a problem.

So how have the countries of the world solved the problem of supplying thermal energy to the population, and why can’t we organize it properly?

- The history of European countries is very old. We are still young. But we will definitely reach that level.

According to my data, in 1991, the volume of gas production in Uzbekistan was 41 billion cubic meters. By 2010, our result had reached 67 billion. This means that in 20 years our result has grown to 26 billion cubic meters.

In addition, the mines will also have their own deadlines, depending on the reserves. Drilling of new wells has now begun as stocks begin to run out.

In Europe, every cubic meter of gas is controlled. Now we also have smart meters. You know, before that, you could have agreed with someone from the gas office and reversed the meter. This has led to a shortage of gas for ordinary consumption.

Now the system has been set up properly. Smart meters are installed in each office and full monitoring of gas is carried out. I think this is the first and right step.

Second, Europe uses gas and oil products very sparingly. Unfortunately, we do not plan properly.

Regrettably, gas production in Uzbekistan is currently declining. Of course, the gas pressure drops and gas does not reach villages in remote areas.

The government is working hard to get liquefied gas to remote and densely populated areas.

In my opinion, the most appropriate solution to this problem is to increase the gas production rate. Until then, it is necessary to import. But we don’t have to get used to it. You see the processes going on in the world, the price has gone up.

One can watch the interview in full via the video above.

Mirodil Jalolov, popularly known as “Odilboy”, is known by Uzbeks, especially Tashkent residents, as the builder of the Bunyodkor Stadium, the Palace of Forums, and several mosques and buildings.