Rustam Minnikhanov: ''The ethylene complex project is one of the major growth areas for Tatarstan economy''
The president of Tatarstan came to congratulate Nizhnekamskneftekhim with the 50th anniversary and awarded the staff members with the order ‘’For merits to Tatarstan’’
Nizhnekamsk had double celebration yesterday – the 50th anniversary of Nizhnekamskneftekhin and Day of the City. As usual, they celebrated the day of foundation of the enterprise by launching a new production unit – Rustam Minnikhanov gave the start to the unit for formaldehyde production. Besides, in honour of the anniversary, almost 1,500 employees were awarded, and the city now have renewed Lemaev public garden. How the chemical enterprise ''survived'' in the 1990s and about the plans of the company for the next 50 years – read in the material of Realnoe Vremya.
The launch of new unit for formaldehyde production
The management of the company plans to increase production volume. For this reason, on the day of celebration of the anniversary it was launched the new unit for formaldehyde production. It is raw material that in the production line of the company will allow to ramp up the production of synthetic isoprene rubber. Nizhnekamskneftejhim has produced formaldehyde already since the 1970s, but now, in order to increase capacities, they need another, the second unit. The new unit works on the base of the technology of the Swedish company Johnson Matthey Formox, the equipment is made at a state-of-the-art level, which will allow to decrease raw materials consumption and adverse impact on environment.
''Before getting into atmosphere, gases will go through the reactor section, where pollution is removed, due to what we release pure gas,'' explained chief technologist of the isoprene-monomer plant of Nizhnekamsneftekhim Anton Burykin.
The design, production and assembling of the unit took one and a half years and cost 4,5 billion rubles. But it is only the first stage of developing the isoprene-monomer plant: by the end of the year, the construction of isobutylene production and reconstruction of isoprene production will be finished.
''Every year of the enterprise's work we marked by launching new units, and today is no exception. We are launching the unit for formaldehyde production. This production will allow to ramp up the production of synthetic isoprene rubber up to 330,000 tonnes, and there is more to come,'' said director general of Nizhnekamskneftekhim Azat Bikmurzin.
The new unit was inspected by President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, Director General of TAIF JSC Albert Shigabutdinov, Deputy Director General for management and strategic development of the group Nizhnikamskneftekhim of TAIF JSC, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of NKNK Vladimir Busygin, after what they gave the start to the production by pressing a symbolic button.
''Fortunately, in the 1990's we could supply products to foreign enterprises for dollars''
After the celebration, they went to Ice Palace where gathered almost 5,000 people. It was those who started to construct the plant in the distant 1960s, and those work today. That day they recalled the construction years of the chemical plant, thus paying tribute to the history.
''More than half a century ago, when it was just beginning, from all over the country enthusiasts were going to the large construction site, knowing that they would have to live in cold dirty huts and tents. These desperate pioneers, overcoming difficulties, were firmly achieving their goal because they were sure their dreams would become a reality and the petrochemical giant and modern comfortable city would grow soon. Nizhnekamsk became the petrochemical capital of Tatarstan, Nizhnekamskneftekhim today is the leading Russian company in terms of volume and range of products, the brand known in many countries,'' said Vladimir Busygin.
The need for own chemical plant in the USSR they began to discuss in the late 1950s, when in the country there was the lack of synthetic rubbers and plastics, but products of them were necessary for the industry and the population. Therefore, in 1958, it was adopted the resolution on construction of the petrochemical plant on the basis of hydrocarbon raw material of Tatarstan and Western Siberia. The construction began in 1960, and after 7 years the first block of the central gas fractionation unit was commissioned, and on 31 July 1967 the plant received the first raw material. This date became the birthday of the enterprise.
''In the 1970's they introduced new production of monomers and polymers every year, in the 1980's the plants such as ethylene oxide, polypropylene and styrene, the production of polyethers began operation. Even in the difficult 1990's the development never stopped and the production of alpha-olefins started. The 2000s were the new plastic era, in 2003 one after another they began to start up new productions and to produce polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS plastics. Over the 50 years, many projects have been implemented, almost annually they put into operation new productions,'' said Azat Bikmurzin.
The celebration was attended by former heads of the company. Gayaz Sakhapov headed the chemical plant in the most difficult years — from 1985 to 1997. He recalled how at that time money circulation decreased, and although the company continued to supply products to other plants it was difficult to get money for the products.
''There were difficulties, but the company always worked, and people were paid a monthly salary. There were difficulties such as provision of raw materials and export of products — we supplied raw materials, but other plants weren't able to pay us. Fortunately, we were able to supply the products to foreign companies for dollars,'' recalled Gayaz Sakhapov.
Nizhnekamsneftekhim is a family affair
Despite the fact that over 50 years in Nizhnekamsk there have arisen several industrial productions, Nizhnekamskneftekhim is still the city-forming enterprise. It employs about 15,000 people and for many of them the job has become a family affair. Over the years there have grown dynasties, whose experience in the company exceeds 500 years.
''My husband and I have worked for 57 years at halves and we started with the first ''stones'' of the foundation. The whole our family has worked for 150 years — both sons and their spouses work at the chemical plant, and now the grandson is growing and he will also go to Nizhnekamskneftekhim,'' told an apparatchik of the sixth category Nina Usova.
In acknowledgement, 1,402 employees were encouraged with prizes and awards, including of the federal level. Among them, former General Director of the enterprise, now Deputy Director General for management and strategic development of the group Nizhnekamskneftekhim at TAIF JSC, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nizhnekamskneftekhim Vladimir Busygin. By the decree of the President of Russia he was awarded the medal of Honour for his great contribution to the development of the oil and gas industry, many years of diligent work.
To distinguish all workers, by the decree of the president of Tatarstan for particularly outstanding achievements of the staff in the development of the petrochemical industry and contribution to the economy of the republic, PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim was awarded with the order ''For merits to Tatarstan''.
''Fairy tales can become true with this ethylene!''
Nizhnekamskneftekhim celebrated the half-century anniversary in the status of a global brand. The company is in the top 10 world producers of synthetic rubbers, it is one of the largest manufacturers of polyisoprene and the world's third largest supplier of butyl rubbers. Last year, it produced 670,000 tonnes of rubber, and by 2021 the volume will be brought to a million tonnes. They plan to increase the production of plastics up to 1,5 million by 2021 and up to 2,5 million tonnes by 2025.
To increase capacity for the production of ethylene in Nizhnekamskneftekhim, they will build the ethylene complex. In June, it was signed a framework agreement with the international chemical corporation LINDE Group for the construction of ethylene complex. The project will last until 2025, during this time the total capacity of ethylene production should reach 1,8 million tonnes a year, which will become the basis for development of the whole industrial site of the company.
''The new ethylene complex means the provision of the production with raw materials! With this ethylene fairy tales can become true, and TAIF is to do this,'' commented to the correspondent of Realnoe Vremya Director General of Tatneftekhiminvest-holding Rafinat Yarullin.
''The company is implementing the development strategy until 2025, it includes the construction of the olefin complex with the production of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene and other various products. This project of ethylene complex is one of the main points of growth for the economy of Tatarstan in the framework of the development strategy 2030. Besides, the new complex is one of the main strategies in the oil and gas industry of Russia,'' said the president of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov.
Renewed Lemaev public garden and Bi-2 as a gift to the city
The company participates in the implementation of social programmes. New roads, schools and kindergartens are being constructed. Aide to the president Natalia Fishman showed Rustam Minnikhanov the renewed public garden named after Lemaev, for which Nizhnekamskneftekhim allocated 60 million rubles.
The garden was improved by the project of an architect Emil Sirazetdinov. The park has a ceremonial arch, navigation stands, also lighting and surveillance cameras. The unfinished fountain was turned into a playground, and next to it there was made the amphitheater.
''The embellishment of the park has become a light attraction — laser projection on the veil of the reconstructed fountain. A wall of water is projected with logos of the key industries of the city and portraits of its honoured residents,'' IA Tatar-inform quoted aide to the president of Tatarstan Natalia Fishman.
The company's anniversary is an event not only for chemists but also for all citizens and guests of the city, so in the evening on the Maidan there began the concert of Bi-2, Elena Temnikova and Glukoza. Despite raining weather, the ground gathered tens of thousands of people.
