Russian petrochemical giant Sibur has agreed to take a technology license for the production of maleic anhydride (MA) from Italian engineering contractor Conser for use in a plant it plans to build at Tobolsk, Russia, with an estimated capacity of 45,000 t/y. The plant will be Russia’s first, as the country currently relies on imports to satisfy domestic consumption of 4,500 t/y. Sibur will supply its own butane feedstock.

The Moscow-based group said the new facility will enable it to fully substitute imports and also export material to Europe and the Middle East as well as provide new development opportunities for many domestic industries. For the project, Sibur has also engaged NIPIgaspererabotka, Russia’s Scientific Research and Design Institute for Gas Processing, to handle design, supply, logistics and construction services.

Driven geographically by Asia-Pacific, global demand for maleic anhydride is forecast to experience a combined annual growth rate of 5.5% from 2016, rising to nearly 3 million tonnes in 2024, according to a report by US-based Grand View Research. Unsaturated polyester resins account for more than half of demand currently.

Deputy chairman of Sibur’s management board, Vladimir Razumov, said the chemical producer is working continuously to improve and expand its production capacities to meet demand and generate growth momentum for key segments of the Russian economy.

In February 2015, Sibur laid the first foundations of the ZapSibNeftekhim project at Tobolsk. An investment of $9.5 million is being made in the complex which will comprise a 1.5m t/y steam cracker and units to produce various grades of PE and PP. The aim of the project is to develop its gas processing operations and eventually substitute the imports of those polymers that have the highest demand on the Russian market.

Sibur is also reported to have started production this month of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) at Dzerzhinsk in Nizhny Novgorod, with first volumes expected to be shipped to Europe at the end of October. The new plant has made the gas and petrochemicals group Russia’s sole producer of the acrylic ester, which is used in applications such as polymer coatings, adhesives, sealants and plastics.