Nizhnekamsk Refinery selects Spherizone technology for polypropylene plant in Russia

– CSJC Nizhnekamsk Refinery has selected Basell’s Spherizone technology for a new 200 KT per year polypropylene plant to be built at Nizhnekamsk, Russia as part of a major refinery and petrochemical complex expansion. The project is scheduled for completion in 2011.

“Nine Spherizone process plants have already been licensed in eight different countries, including locations in The Americas, the Middle East, Asia and Western and Eastern Europe,” said Just Jansz, president of Basell’s Technology Business, who attended the signing ceremony in Nizhnekamsk. “These companies understand the importance of differentiation to capture maximum value and maintain business profitability throughout the industry cycle.”

Spherizone technology is an advanced manufacturing process for the production of polypropylene. It uses a unique, state-of-the-art, multi-zone circulating reactor system. Spherizone technology plants can produce the full range of polypropylene grades, as well as new families of propylene-based polymers with enhanced product properties.

Jansz added, “Today’s speciality products will be tomorrow’s commodities. Spherizone technology enables producers to rapidly commercialize new innovations to distinguish themselves from competitors.”

Basell is a leading licensor of polypropylene and polyethylene technologies. It has licensed more than 200 polyolefin process licenses, twice that of any other polyolefin technology licensor. During the past 20 years, Basell technologies have been used in about half of all new polypropylene projects worldwide.