SIBUR receives first hexene product from NKNK facility

KAZAN. Aug 26 (Interfax) - PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim (NKNK, part of SIBUR) has received its first commercial product during commissioning works at the hexene facility, SIBUR CEO Mikhail Karisalov told the head of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, during a walkthrough of the Kazan Oil, Gas and Chemistry exhibition.

"Yesterday we received the first commercial hexene. So now we have our own technology there. We report that our proprietary technology is working," Karisalov said.

It was previously reported that the decision was made to build the facility with a capacity of 50,000 tonnes of hexene per year on the territory of NKNK's oligomers and glycols plant, on the site of a decommissioned and dismantled ethylene oxide facility. NIPIGAZ acted as the EP contractor.

The hexene facility project includes a closed flare system with minimal emissions from the flare into the atmosphere and a closed-loop water circulation cycle.

The hexene production will integrate into NKNK's ethylene consumption chain, using ethylene from the new EP-600 facility as feedstock. The launch of production will meet the company's own needs for the new product, considering both current and future projects, as well as the needs of partners in Russia and abroad, SIBUR said.

Hexene is an essential component in the production of special grades of polyethylene, allowing for an expansion of the range of consumer properties of polyethylene compared to base grades.

SIBUR previously purchased hexene for its polymer productions abroad. The capacity of its own hexene facility will exceed SIBUR's needs for this component 25%-30%, the company said.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim is one of the world's largest producers of synthetic rubbers and one of Russia's largest plastics producers. It has been part of SIBUR since October 2021.