As indicated by Sibur (Moscow / Russia; www.sibur.com) CEO Dmitry Konov during the onset of construction already, the completion of the large-scale polyolefin plants of subsidiary ZapSibNeftekhim (Tobolsk / Russia) will be significantly delayed (see Plasteurope.com of 18.02.2015). A spokeswoman for the Moscow-based parent company told Plasteurope.com at the ongoing “Chinaplas” industry fair (www.chinaplasonline.com) that the construction phase is unlikely to be completed before 2020. Sibur initially had hoped to start up the large-scale hub in 2017.

In 2015, Sibur increased its basic polymers sales by 33% to RUB 50.9 bn following an expansion in the average capacity utilisation rate in PP production at the Tobolsk facility (see Plasteurope.com of 26.04.2016).

PIE’s Polyglobe capacity database (www.polyglobe.net) shows that the Tobolsk complex will include four LLD/HDPE swing plants with overall capacity for 1.5m t/y as well as a new 500,000 t/y PP copolymers line. ZapSibNeftekhim currently turns out 740,000 t/y of PP homopolymers as well as 260,000 t/y of LDPE in Tobolsk. These plants are to remain operational even once the new capacity is brought on stream.