Looking into the future

Darya Borisova, Management Board member and Managing Director of SIBUR, spoke about the Company’s contribution to development of the petrochemical industry.


Darya Borisova, Management Board member and Managing Director of SIBUR, told the Industry Land show on the Euronews channel how the Company’s projects influence the industry, how its capital expenditures become more efficient and how recycling is gaining momentum. Evolution of the petrochemical sector drives growth in the country’s oil and gas industry. As the biggest integrated hydrocarbon processor in Russia, SIBUR fits into this model organically.

With its position at the cutting edge of technology, the petrochemical industry must be the first to adopt the principles of sustainability, circular economy, and plastic waste recycling.

According to Darya Borisova, the main challenge that SIBUR and the entire sector are now facing is to develop competitive world-class industrial facilities. An important step towards this accomplishment will be the launch of ZapSibNeftekhim, Russia’s largest ever polyethylene and polypropylene production facility. It will provide an impetus to polymer processing and manufacturing of end products such as packaging, construction materials, components of household appliances, etc.

The opening of SIBUR PolyLab, a research and pilot production facility, became another milestone in the development of the industry. This is where SIBUR teams up with its customers to test the processing of polymer products, refine formulas, and jointly develop innovative, user-friendly materials with enhanced properties.

Competitiveness of the domestic petrochemical sector largely depends on the efficiency of capital expenditures. Now they are far from perfect, Darya Borisova admits, as Russian construction projects are more expensive than those in China or the US. Hence one of SIBUR’s major goals is to increase returns on capex deploying best practices in engineering, construction and project management, and procurement.

The launch of ZapSibNeftekhim will drive growth in associated sectors.

Partnership between the government and waste collection and processing companies is the key to fostering the recycling industry

Darya Borisova also elaborated on the environmental topic. With its position at the cutting edge of technology, the petrochemical industry must be the first to adopt the principles of sustainability, circular economy, and plastic waste recycling. In December, SIBUR approved a sustainable development strategy that meets all the applicable HSE, product range sustainability, recycling development and social responsibility requirements. Importantly enough, the strategy focuses on enhancing polymer recycling and increasing the number of R&D projects exploring recyclability of various types of plastic.

Partnership between the government and waste collection and processing companies is the key to fostering the recycling industry, Darya Borisova believes. Consumer outreach is also crucial. Minimising waste management burden on the consumer and shifting focus to industrial sorting and recycling solutions will help improve the efficiency of this process.

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