Russia: Petrochemicals Zap Sib Neftekhim Produces Maiden PE from Own Feedstock
One of the polymerisation units of Sibur’s new petrochemical facility, Zap Sib Neftekhim in Siberia has come online. The unit is now producing polyethylene by using its own feedstock at its Tobolsk complex in Russia.
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Tobolsk/Russia – In the course of Zap Sib Neftekhim commissioning and start-up, Sibur has reached yet another major milestone – the first ethylene batch produced in-house and used as feedstock for the first polyethylene granules.
The commissioning and start-up is well underway to bring the new petrochemical facility on stream. Following polyethylene production by the first polymerisation unit, the firm’s staff will need to set up the other three units to make this polymer, and fine-tune processes at all stages of the facility’s production chain.
After the ramp-up to its full capacity, the petrochemical facility will manufacture 1.5 mt of polyethylene per year and is claimed to be Russia’s largest polymer production facility.
In spring, Zap Sib Neftekhim produced a test batch of polyethylene from imported feedstock, while today the process is running smoothly using its own feedstock.
Zap Sib Neftekhim accommodates a total of four polymerisation units to produce various grades of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) with an aggregate capacity of 190 tonnes per hour (process licensed by INEOS, UK).
Polyethylene from Tobolsk will be used in pressure pipes, car parts, blow-moulded containers (vials, canisters, barrels, cosmetics jars and yoghurt pots), films for food and industrial packaging, and cable products.
Igor Klimov, member of Sibur’s Management Board, CEO of Zap Sib Neftekhim and Sibur Tobolsk: "The first polyethylene batch from our own feedstock is one of the key stages of launching the entire Zap Sib Neftekhim petrochemical facility. We hit this milestone thanks to the concerted efforts of our staff involved in commissioning and start-up, and those in the facility’s operations unit. Now, we are working to align processes across all production units and tweak the equipment.”

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