Renova has signed a strategic agreement targeted to create biopolymer production facility in Russia

As part of Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Netherlands, the Renova Group of companies has signed an agreement to create the unique in the world high-tech biopolymer production facility in Russia. The cooperation agreement was executed between CJSC Rotek, a Renova Group company, and Purac, a subsidiary of CSM, the top holding company.

The Agreement envisages analysis of opportunities to set in Russia a 100 ktpa facility that will produce PLA polymers for subsequent production of biodegradable plastics. Polylactic acid is the core raw material for production of biodegradable packaging, films, fibers, etc. Bio plastics are used for packing materials, clothes manufacturing, as well as in motor, microelectronics and other industries. A facility of this scale operating on the basis of Purac’ technology of industrial PLA and lactides production from renewable resources, and their polymerization know-how, will be the first production chain of its in Europe.

In the event of positive project feasibility testing, the new facility will allow for industrial production of a revolutionary generation of polymers that will be unique for Russia and globally. According to Renova’s estimate, project investments will exceed RUR 16bn.
As Renova Group’s High-Tech Asset Development Director Mikhail Lifschitz says, «the prospect of creating a production facility of this kind will not only contribute to improvement of overall environmental situation in our country and the development of agricultural sector as the core supplier of raw materials for production of biopolymers, but will also improve the image of Russian economy as the user of environmentally friendly newest-generation materials».

A major private Russian business group which owns and manages assets in metallurgy, mining, chemical, construction, transport, energy, telecommunications, high-tech engineering, public utilities and financial sectors in Russia and abroad (CIS, Switzerland, Italy, South Africa, and the United States of America). Renova’s largest assets include interests in UC RUSAL, Integrated Energy Systems and Swiss-based technology concerns OC Oerlikon and Sulzer.

Source: Renova