Construction is expected to be complete by 3Q 2021.
The new complex will produce approximately 120,000 tonnes of polymer-bitumen binders every year.
Production facilities will involve technology from New Zealand company Technix, and will include a sealed heat-recovery system, optimising energy-efficiency and environmental safety.
High-viscosity tar, produced at the Moscow Refinery’s Euro+ refining complex, will be used as feedstock for producing bitumen binders - on which basis, production will be fully integrated into the refinery - bitumen terminal production chain, allowing deliveries of polymer bitumens to roadbuilding companies throughout Russia’s Southern Federal District to be increased.
The cutting-edge bitumen-production solutions earmarked for this project have been successfully tested at pilot facilities at Gazpromneft-Bitumen Materials’ Science & Technology Centre in Ryazan - with more than 200 tests being conducted, in total, and more than 20 effective feedstock formulations for high-performance bitumen binders being developed.
Dmitry Orlov, CEO of Gazpromneft-Bitumen Materials, said:
- Our business development strategy envisages further increasing sales of bitumen materials, to more than 3 million tonnes per year, by 2030
- The launch of this new cutting-edge facility at the Salsk terminal means we can start producing bitumen binders - using what is innovative technology on the domestic market - as soon as this year
- We’ll be using the latest available solutions in binder production, to that end
The company is also one of the top-10 largest bitumens producers in the world, with Gazprom Neft’s products being used in roadbuilding across 65 countries, worldwide.
