Siemens offers TAIF GC project on digitalisation of petrochemical factories
Director of Siemens AG Joe Kaeser has paid a business trip to Kazan for the first time. During the trip, the president of the leading technological company met with the top management of TAIF GC – a former partner of Siemens. The two holdings marked vectors of further joint work and types of mutually beneficial cooperation. An offer of the director of the German concern to create digital petrochemistry in Tatarstan was unexpected. The project will probably become pilot not only in the republic but also in Russia. In an exclusive interview, Realnoe Vremya tells about all the details of the meeting.
''Russia needs to become new Europe''
''It's been my first visit to Kazan. I am glad to be here,'' head of the leading world technological holding Siemens AG Joe Kaeser marked his acquaintance with the capital of Tatarstan. The company works in more than 200 countries and sees especial perspectives of its presence in Russia. However, the especial attitude is explained historically. In 1848, founder of the German company Werner Siemens built the first telegraph line in Germany. ''It was the time when worldwide famous Silicon Valley did not exist yet,'' Joe Kaeser emphasises. (By the way, this year the company is going to celebrate its 170 th birthday). One year later, Siemens took his development to Russia that a telegraph line from India to London crossed. Some time later, the Germany company had to face big problems. And Russia aided its foreign partner having ordered telegraph sets. Precisely this order founded the lasting relations of Russia and Siemens. ''If Russia had not helped then, Siemens would not exist today. This is why we aspire to develop here,'' the current head of the German giant stated.
''If Russia had not helped then, Siemens would not exist today. This is why we aspire to develop here,'' the current head of the German giant stated
According to Kaeser, Siemens not only develops in Russia but also tries to constantly expand its presence. For instance, the topic of a possible increase of added value in Russia has been recently risen at the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in China. ''I asked Putin why he allowed China actively develop towards Western Europe because the situation of Russia due to the presence of oil and gas is better. And the president agreed with me. It is the biggest market in the world. We agreed to continue our dialogue at the beginning of June at the Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum,'' Joe Kaeser told.
The idea is that Russia needs to become new Europe is another moment he managed to talk about during the conversation with Vladimir Putin. ''Europe is great. But Russia needs to show Europe, America and China it is not worse,'' Mr Kaeser noted.
''What our company can do for you, so that you will be more successful''
In Russia, the German concern is interested in petrochemical projects, which is one of the key areas of TAIF GC. Despite the lasting cooperation, Joe Kaeser visited the holding for the first time. ''I read a lot of information about TAIF. I hear and know about your successful development. The main issue is what our company can do for you, so that you will be more successful,'' the director of the German company addressed his Tatarstan partners.
''For us it is important that Siemens always remain the same powerful company as it is today,'' TAIF GC Director General Albert Shigabutdinov replied him. ''You are a scientific and technological development leader in Europe and neighbouring countries. We are not rivals but consumers of your products. And we want to work with the best equipment only. At the moment, we have projects that our companies signed with you. We constantly keep in touch and receive all the necessary equipment and materials from you,'' the head of the multisectoral holding told.
''For us, it is important that Siemens always remain the same powerful company as it is today. We are not rivals but consumers of your products. And we want to work with the best equipment only''
The close and fruitful cooperation in main big projects between Siemens and TAIF GC has been lasting since 2014. In the recent time, Siemens has delivered equipment for Heavy Residues Deep Conversion Complex at TAIF-NK that is under construction. It also reconstructed an ethylene compressor at HDPE Plant and extruder at LPPE Plant for Kazanorgsintez CJSC. Siemens electrical equipment is used in innovative Gas Turbine Unit with a capacity of 388,6 MW at Kazan CCHP-3 that is under construction. In addition, the company has been cooperating with Nizhnekamskneftekhim CJSC, particularly in the reconstruction of electricity distribution devices and steam turbine drives of rotating units at Divinyl and Butadiene Plants and many other types of equipment.
''Now we would like to improve our cooperation, make it more efficient and get rid of all the intermediaries that exist nowadays. We need to say that TAIF GC especially appreciates the equipment of the German holding. We would like to create a working group or commission who would participate in all our projects, so that we will buy your equipment directly or through our developers. While signing agreements, especially in the recent time, we ask developers a document confirming that they use Siemens equipment. If somebody refuses, we stop the joint work,'' Albert Shigabutdinov stressed the value.
The TAIF CJSC director general also marked vectors for further fruitful activity. ''We would like to make the joint work more intense. TAIF has a development programme until 2025. It is linked with high oil conversion rate, production of big value added goods that are needed in both Russia and Europe. And your company manufactures a big number of equipment: turbines, compressors, pumps, management systems,'' Albert Shigabutdinov drew up the areas.
Tatarstan is offered smart petrochemistry
Then the conversation of representatives of the two big holdings came to one of the modern world trends – industrial digitalisation. According to Joe Kaeser, it is one of the initiatives that needs to be developed in Russia. An agreement between Russia and Germany on digitalisation is expected to be signed at the Petersburg Economic Forum. ''It is one thing to have a master contract. Another thing is to make it work,'' Joe Kaeser thinks.
The head of Siemens AG offered TAIF GC to consider the offer on digitalisation project of petrochemical factories of the Tatarstan holding. The project presupposes the use of the data of working factories to optimise processes, improve production profitability and the output. ''TAIF can show the ideal of such a project for the petrochemical sector,'' Siemens AG CEO Joe Kaeser noted.
In answer to it, Albert Shigabutdinov stressed that the holding is interested in the project. ''It would be interesting for us. In addition, we ourselves work in this area. In this respect, many questions that are at the crossing of several sciences arise. What is more, costly investments are needed. In any case, we will look for cooperation points in this area,'' the director general of TAIF CJSC answered.
''It would be interesting for us. In addition, we ourselves work in this area. In this respect, many questions that are at the crossing of several sciences arise''
After the meeting ended, Joe Kaeser commented Realnoe Vremya the idea of digitalisation project. ''We are really well prepared for the industrial revolution. More than €20 billion have been invested to create digital enterprises in the last 5 years. We have done a lot in discreet industries like car and space manufacturing. And we can do the same thing in the petrochemical industry. At the moment, TAIF is expanding its capacities in petrochemistry. It is a good opportunity to get this project started. We agreed with Albert Shigabutdinov to meet at the Petersburg Economic Forum and discuss this idea in detail,'' Joe Kaeser told in conclusion.