Abstract:

　　Construction has formally begun on Russia’s largest integrated PVC production complex,　with a planned polymer capacity of 330,000 tpa, in the country’s Nizhny Novgorod Region.

　　The Rusvinyl complex, a joint venture project backed by Russian group Sibur, Solvay and　BASF, was launched in a formal ceremony of the laying of the first corner stone at the site　in Kstovo. Now set to come on stream in 2013, the complex will also include a 235,000 tpa　caustic soda plant. Subject to the development of salt deposits in the Nizhny Novgorod　region and sufficient supply of the raw material, the Rusvinyl PVC capacity could be　expanded to more than 500,000 tpa. Rusvinyl’s operation, which was formerly scheduled to　be launched this year, is located close to Sibur’s existing ethylene cracker in Kstovo.

　　The joint venture will use PVC production technology licensed from vinyl chloride　specialist SolVin, jointly owned Solvay and BASF, while international engineering project　management consultancy, Technip, is responsible for plant design, equipment supply and　construction management, according to Moscow-based Sibur.