Abstract:

　　Russia’s biggest polypropylene production complex yet is beginning to take shape with the　arrival from South Korea of some huge plant components for the Sibur project in Tobolsk.

　　Two 60 tonne, 38 metre-long slag purging columns were shipped by via the Indian Ocean and　Suez Canal and overland through Europe to St Petersburg, Russia, prior to delivery to the　site.

　　The columns are some of the first of 23 pieces of over-sized equipment being shipped in　preparation for construction of the Tobolsk complex. The biggest unit still to come from　South Korea is a massive 1,000 tonne, 100m long propane dehydrogenation column which is　destined for the Russian port of Arkhangelsk.

　　From there, the 10m diameter column will travel by special barge up the River Irtysh to　dock at the port in Tobolsk, which has been specially dredged and expanded to take the　largest project equipment.

　　This year, the PP construction project will take delivery of equipment and supplies from　more than 650 containers, 100 rail cars, and 470 road trailers at the Tobolsk site,　according to Sibur.

　　Tobolsk complex is set to produce up to 510,000 tpa of propylene and 500,000 tpa of　polypropylene when completed. The site is expected to start turning out PP resin from 2012.