Sibur commissions DOTP plasticizer plant

Russia’s Sibur has commissioned an eco-friendly dioctyl terephthalate(DOTP) plasticizer facility in the city of Perm. DOTP is a key component in flexible PVC applications such as flooring and roofing membranes, wallpaper, cable compounds and automotive interiors.

The 100,000-tonnes/yr DOTP production facility will not only will cover the needs of the Russian domestic market (estimated at 60,000 tonnes/year)—it will also serve export markets to Europe and other regions. Unlike phthalate plasticizers DOTP is an eco-friendly product that complies to European and other international environmental standards.

SIBUR’s Perm-based DOTP production facility is the single largest production site in Europe. SIBUR invested $107 million into the project, of which 82% was sourced to the Russian suppliers and service providers.

NIPIgas, a leading Russian research center for facility design, procurement, logistics, and construction, acted as a general designer and developed design and engineering solutions. Russian companies were the key partners in the project. Suppliers of the core production equipment included Uralkhimmash, RSP Alexiy, RPC Mediana-Filter, PHM Mach, Penzneftekhimmash, Electroprofi and others. Perm-based contractors GSE-Permneftegazstroy and SMK Delta carried out construction and installation works.

The project was supported by the Perm Region Government under a special investment contract structure to promote creation of new production facilities offering high-tech jobs

In a statement, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister said: “Sibur is a leader in chemicals and petrochemicals and is committed to exploring new technologies set to underpin the offering of competitive Russian products commercially successful around the world. Going forward, we will extend our support to such initiatives and new projects, in particular via the International Cooperation and Exports national program with a goal to promote Russian products and facilitate introduction of new technologies. A draft law to regulate special investment contracts for new technologies envisaging extensive preferences and subsidies has already been submitted to the State Duma. It is meant to support R&D activities bound to reshape our industry landscape. I would like to thank you for your vigorous and insightful efforts aimed at developing the Russian chemical industry.”

Added Dmitry Konov, Chairman of the Management Board of Sibur Holding: “DOTP is a new product for the Russian market. Along with being one of the key import substitution projects in Russia’s petrochemical industry, the Perm facility is also going to drive the growth of the country's non-commodity exports. Finally, DOTP is an eco-friendly product, which is very much in line with the industry trends.”