SIBUR intends to meet 20% of Russian market's demand for propylene glycol

KAZAN. Sept 8 (Interfax) - SIBUR has tested the production of a pilot batch of a new product of low-tonnage chemistry - propylene glycol, at Nizhnekamskneftekhim facilities, the NKNC press service said in a statement.

The launch of production at NKNC is expected to meet at least 20% of the Russian market demand, which is estimated at 40,000 tonnes per year. Propylene glycol is in demand in the pharmaceutical industry, construction, cosmetics and food industries. Until now, almost all of this product has been imported.

Propylene glycol production has been set up at a NKNK unit specially modernized for production of ethylcellosolv, and the possibility of producing any of these products on this equipment depending on the need is available, the report said.

"The idea of this project is based on requests from our current partners and is aimed at solving difficulties with propylene glycol imports. We take into account the fact that propylene glycol is one of the portfolio components in a number of segments together with maleic anhydride (MAN), styrene, diethylene glycol (DEG), the availability of this product on the local market is extremely important," Svetlana Girfanova, head of the Propylene and MAN Derivatives product group, was quoted as saying in the statement.

Propylene glycol is used as an ingredient that provides stability for liquid pharmaceutical dosage forms, including injectable drugs. Besides, it is used in production of technical chemistry, unsaturated polyester resins, heat transfer and de-icing fluids, paint and varnish materials.

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