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Sibur selects Univation to provide PE process technology for Amur mega-project

| By Mary Bailey

Amur Gas Chemical Complex, LLC (AGCC), the project being implemented by Sibur (Moscow, Russia), the largest integrated petrochemicals company in Russia, has selected Univation Technologies’ (Houston) UNIPOL PE Process for three world-scale polyethylene (PE) reactor lines. These three lines will be incorporated into a world-scale, integrated project that also includes two additional SIBUR petrochemical production lines under design and construction near Svobodny town, Amur region, in the Far East of the Russian Federation. The combined manufacturing assets underneath the Gas Chemical Complex project will contribute to a total polyolefin design capacity of 2,700,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr).

With dual objectives of creating significant PE capacity while also maximizing PE production flexibility, AGCC will construct three world-scale UNIPOL™ PE Process lines including two 600,000 m.t./yr full-density plants for HDPE/LLDPE production and a single 600,000 m.t./yr line focused on a broad-range of both bimodal and unimodal HDPE production. The three lines achieve a combined total UNIPOL PE Process design capacity of 1,800,000 m.t./yr.

AGCC will utilize Univation’s most advanced product technology platforms for both HDPE and LLDPE production, including ACCLAIM Technology for unimodal HDPE, PRODIGY Technology for bimodal HDPE, and XCAT Technology for advanced metallocene LLDPE. With these capabilities, AGCC plans to capture a full-range of HDPE, LLDPE and metallocene LLDPE product opportunities, which includes both conventional large-volume products as well as specialty applications.

AGCC will employ Univation’s advanced software platforms for both process control capability and virtual process training tools. Univation’s process control software, PREMIER APC+, delivers state-of-the-art process control capability designed to maximize production rates, facilitate rapid product transitions and enhance overall operational reliability of the UNIPOL™ PE Process. Univation’s UNIPOL PE Virtual Plant Simulator (UVPS) Software will provide AGCC’s operating staff a life-like training environment by simulating the look and feel of all key operational aspects of a UNIPOL PE Plant to deliver a highly realistic training experience.

“The Amur Gas Chemical Complex represents a significant investment in world-scale petrochemical production capability – and we are pleased to collaborate with SIBUR on their three polyethylene lines which will provide considerable supply benefits for both regional and global markets,” stated Dr. Steven F. Stanley, President of Univation Technologies. Dr. Stanley continued, “UNIPOL™ PE Technology delivers essential elements for a project of this magnitude including proven world-scale capacity designs, long-term manufacturing economic advantages derived from lower initial investment and low on-going operating costs, and highly flexible PE production capabilities to both anticipate and meet ever evolving application requirements within the PE market.”