Sibur’s (Moscow / Russia; www.sibur.com) Tobolsk Polymer (Tobolsk / Russia) subsidiary has successfully started up its 510,000 t/y propylene feedstock plant, reports Honeywell (Morris Township, New Jersey / USA; www.honeywell.com). The facility, powered by the “Oleflex” technology of the US group’s UOP (Des Plaines, Illinois / USA; www.uop.com) subsidiary, means Tobolsk Polymer is now fully backward integrated. The hub first began PP production last year (see Plasteurope.com of 23.10.2013).

Honeywell said the plant is the first Oleflex unit in Russia, demonstrating the need for more C3 capacity in the country. Commenting on the start-up, Sibur managing director and head of its Basic Polymers division Sergey Komyshan said, “UOP Oleflex technology is well-aligned with our goals to sustain continued growth and market success.”