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Polymers for healthcare

ZapSibNeftekhim has increased the output of polypropylene grades for medical use.

ZapSibNeftekhim’s product range currently includes 16 polypropylene grades. The coronavirus pandemic forced it to ramp up the production of grades used in medicine and packaging. Polypropylene, for example, can be a component of nonwoven surgical masks, blister packs, as well as medical equipment and spare parts.

Petrochemical facility will produce 1.5 mt of polyethylene and 0.5 mt of polypropylene. It guarantees 100% import substitution of these basic polymers in Russia and also opens a possibility of supplies to international markets

The facility has been adapting to the market environment to provide its customers with the products most demanded at the moment. “In the present situation, ZapSibNeftekhim’s stable operation and ability to quickly reach its design capacity is of crucial importance not only to the country’s petrochemical industry and economy as a whole, but also to people fighting the coronavirus. It is our duty to ensure uninterrupted polypropylene and polyethylene production,” said Igor Klimov, CEO of ZapSibNeftekhim and SIBUR Tobolsk.

Upon ramp-up, ZapSibNeftekhim, with its site area of 460 hectares, will become Russia’s largest petrochemical facility producing 2 mtpa of polymers (1.5 mt of polyethylene and 0.5 mt of polypropylene). It guarantees 100% import substitution of these basic polymers in Russia and also opens a possibility of supplies to international markets.

Polyethylene from ZapSibNeftekhim will be used in pressure pipes, car parts, blow-moulded containers, films for food and industrial packaging, cable products, etc.

ZapSibNeftekhim’s product range currently includes 16 polypropylene grades.

The Territoriya Razvitiya [Territory of Development] series had the first show of a documentary on ZapSibNeftekhim with Sergey Malozyomov. The documentary is available here

According to SIBUR’s partners, the launch of ZapSibNeftekhim was a landmark event for Russia’s chemicals industry. “The new generation of polymers makes it possible to manufacture pipes that will last 100 years or more. To cover the country's needs for such pipes, the output should be between 800,000 and 1 million tonnes per year. Previously, the bulk of raw materials had to be imported from abroad. But ZapSibNeftekhim's launch this year has unleashed production capacities unprecedented for Russia, which is a great advantage for us as it takes mutual responsibility to a whole new level ensuring more stable and reliable supplies,” commented Kirill Trusov, managing director of the Plastic Pipes & Fittings Division at POLYPLASTIC Group.

“Modern construction is inconceivable without polymers. From the very beginning, we were interested in ZapSibNeftekhim, supplying construction materials and helping build the plant. Today, we can source raw materials domestically, which is strategically important to us,” said Sergey Kolesnikov, managing partner and co-owner of TECHNONICOL.

The Territoriya Razvitiya [Territory of Development] series had the first show of a documentary on ZapSibNeftekhim with Sergey Malozyomov, a journalist and a TV host specialising in modern technology. In the film, SIBUR’s employees and partners talked about the launch of the new polymer facility, which serves the strategic goal of import substitution and meeting of the Russian producers’ needs for polyethylene and polypropylene.

The facility has been adapting to the market environment to provide its customers with the products most demanded at the moment.

In the documentary, Igor Klimov elaborated on the plant’s operations as regards the environment – in particular, on how processing of associated petroleum gas (APG) to produce polymers brings down the carbon footprint. The new petrochemical facility will help process up to 20 bcm of APG, which would otherwise be flared on site generating some 7 mtpa of pollutant emissions.

The documentary is available here


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