Sibur to Start Construction of Polymerization Catalyst Plant in the Second Quarter

Sibur has decided to start construction of a petrochemical catalyst plant in the second quarter of this year. Sibur's new investment project will allow the development and production of these special components to be concentrated at one location.

The project will produce for the first time in Russia and the CIS all types of polymerization catalysts required for the production of the most popular synthetic materials - polyethylene and polypropylene.

The total catalyst production will exceed 1,000 tons/year, which will ensure the technological independence of basic polymer production in Russia and will also create opportunities for the supply of catalysts to nearby regions. The production of polyethylene and polypropylene in Russia and the CIS reached 7.9 million tons in 2024.

Taking into account the investment projects already implemented by Sibur and other companies, this figure may more than double by 2030. Currently, the development of the construction design documentation for the first production line - the chromium catalyst line - has been fully completed.

The catalyst production site will be located near Sibur's flagship R&D center and is scheduled to be put into operation in 2026.

The first facilities to be built in the project are those for the production of chromium catalysts. This catalyst is used at the Kazan-Norge Synthetic Plant, the West Siberian Petrochemical Company, and in the future will be used at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex. Chromium catalysts are necessary for the production of film and blown polyethylene grades, which are also used in the production of cans, bottles and fuel tanks, etc. Construction is expected to be completed and put into production in 2027.

In the future, five more process lines will be built to ensure the production of two metallocene catalysts and two titanium catalysts. The sixth process line will start producing silica gel, which is used as a carrier for catalytic systems. Most of the process equipment for the organization of work at the plant will be domestically produced.