VZCZCXRO3280
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK
RUEHYG
DE RUEHNT #1383/01 2151313
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031315Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1225
INFO CIS COLLECTIVE
EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0075
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 0105
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 0284
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0220
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0217
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0220
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0271
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001383 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN 
DEPARTMENT FOR OES (PATRICK HUDAK AND NINA FITE) 
EMBASSY ASTANA FOR BRUCE HUDSPETH 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON PREL TSPL ETTC KTIA KIPR KSTC UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEK S&T: PHYSICS, ENERGY, AND HIGHER EDUCATION 
 
REF: TASHKENT 1151 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY.  OES/STC Officer Michael C. Schena (ESToff) 
visited Uzbekistan from June 1 through July 6 to discuss Uzbek 
Science and Technology (S&T) infrastructure and to continue 
negotiations on a U.S.-Uzbek S&T Cooperation Agreement 
(reftel). This cable -- one of a series on the state of Uzbek 
S&T -- focuses on physics and energy research and cooperative 
programs undertaken by the Tashkent State Technical University. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION "PHYSICS-SUN" AND SOLAR FURNACE (IMS) 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) IMS's research is focused in the following areas: 
processes of interaction of concentrated sunlight with 
substances; experimental solar energy installations; and 
technologies for synthesis of ceramic fire-resistant materials. 
 
¶3. (SBU) ESToff's tour of the Physics-Sun (PS) facility began 
at the organization's headquarters in Tashkent.  ESToff met 
with General Director Prof. Sagdulla Lutpullaev and laboratory 
head Dr. Sultan Suleimanov.  Suleimanov explained that this 
lab's focus was the application of solar technologies, nuclear 
physics, semiconductors and research on Stirling engines. The 
lab has current contacts with the National Renewable Energy 
Laboratory (NREL) and Oak Ridge and has worked in the past 
with NATO and UNDP.  The lab also houses part of the central 
hub for the Virtual Silk Road (VSR) Central Asian Research 
network that connects all Uzbek labs, universities and 
institutes.  VSR currently holds partnerships with Microsoft 
and Cisco.  Several researchers expressed a strong desire for 
better access to international journals to improve their 
research. 
 
¶4. (SBU) COMMENT:  In one of the PS labs, researchers were 
working on a Stirling Engine water pump to be powered by solar 
energy. This project shows great promise and is an example of 
a project that should be considered for support under the 
aegis of the S&T framework agreement. END COMMENT. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Suleimanov accompanied ESToff to the solar furnace in 
Parkent, a short distance outside Tashkent in Tashkent 
Province. Suleimanov introduced ESToff to facility director 
Abdujabbor Abdurakhmanov.  The furnace, an impressive 
structure in itself over ten stories high, sits atop a 
mountain.  This solar furnace is the largest in the world, the 
second largest being in France.  The furnace has the ability 
to convert solar energy into temperatures well over 3,000 
degrees C.  The original purpose of the furnace was to 
simulate temperatures produced during nuclear explosions, but 
it is now used to make industrial ceramics for the cotton, oil 
and gas, and textile industries and to conduct thermodynamic 
research.  The facility is currently supported through a 
series of state grants and subsidies from private sector 
entities. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT:  The solar furnace was completed in 1987 
just before the collapse of the USSR.  The facility is in top 
condition and is well maintained.  This facility would be a 
strong partner for USG entities and could play a pivotal role 
in future solar cell research.  END COMMENT. 
 
INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR PHYSICS (INP) 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) INP's research is focused in the following areas: 
nuclear physics, solid waste radiation physics and material 
sciences, activation analysis and radiochemistry, scientific 
instruments, information technologies. 
 
¶8. (SBU) ESToff met with Umar Salikhbaev, Director of INP, who 
described the institute's work in nuclear and particle physics. 
There is a research reactor on site as well as a synchrotron 
and gamma ray research station.  The facility cooperates 
extensively with DOE and DOE labs; in fact, the facility has a 
 
TASHKENT 00001383  002 OF 002 
 
 
2002 MOU signed with DOE that currently has 15 active 
partnerships for cooperative research.  Salikhbaev expressed 
interest in greater international collaboration and a desire 
to work more closely with the U.S. and international projects 
including CERN and SESAME. 
 
¶9. (SBU) Salikhbaev conducted ESToff on a tour of the facility 
and showed him a number of labs, the gamma ray research 
station, and the research reactor.  During the tour, 
Salikhbaev talked extensively about collaboration with DOE on 
upgrading security and monitoring facilities at the institute. 
 
¶10. (SBU) In regards to security, the facility is double 
walled with a perimeter gate and guard posts.  Armed guards 
are seen walking the property and manning posts.  The facility 
is also camera monitored.  In addition, sensors detecting 
radioactive materials are located near the gates and entrance 
to each building. 
 
TASHKENT STATE TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY (TSTU) 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶11. (SBU) TSTU is one of the largest universities in 
Uzbekistan and the largest technical university in Central 
Asia.  The University offers BA, MA, and PhD degree programs 
in over 80 areas.  Main focus areas include energy, oil & gas, 
ITC, electronics, management, and aviation.  The university 
offers vocational training for students and feeds skilled 
professionals directly into the Uzbek economy. 
 
¶12. (SBU) ESToff met with Sharakhmat Shaabidov, Rector of the 
TSTU, to discuss potential collaboration with U.S. 
universities and institutions.  Shaabidov said he was open to 
further collaboration with the U.S.  Although there are 
currently no formal ties, there were ties in the past. 
Shaabidov said a number of TSTU professors serve as guest 
lecturers at U.S. universities, and he continued that the 
university currently has a number of international 
collaborations with universities in CIS countries, Europe, and 
Asia.  In discussing research at the university, Shaabidov 
said research facilities have improved and now rival 
facilities directly under the Academy of Sciences. Shaabidov 
also mentioned that many TSTU students attend the university 
under a full or partial scholarship from a local company or 
organization for which they work after graduating.  This 
includes the GM engine plant currently being built outside 
Tashkent.  Shaabidov was very interested in establishing 
stronger contacts with universities in the U.S. 
 
CONCLUSION 
---------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) IMS, INP, and TTSU were able to continue their 
collaboration even through the decertification period. These 
scientists are strongly interested in expanded collaboration. 
The presence of new equipment at these facilities clearly 
demonstrates that the GOU understands the importance of 
research and has continued to provide strong support. 
BUTCHER