Process and control licence for Dow in Russia

Russian polymers producer LUKOIL-Neftekhim is to use Dow Chemical’s Unipol polypropylene process, and the complementary Unippac advanced control package, in a new PP plant to be built at the Stavrolen petrochemical complex at Budennovsk, Russia. The plant, set to come on-stream in 2006, will produce 120 000tpa of impact resistant and low-temperature polypropylene.

The Unipol process was developed by Union Carbide, now a subsidiary of Dow, and the Unippac control package is designed to integrate both with the plant automation systems and with company enterprise resource planning systems.

‘Our Unipol process is recognised by engineers and manufacturers around the world for its proven technology, simplicity of investment and low capital investment,’ comments John Yimoyines, vice-president of Dow Technology Licensing.

The deal represents the fifth application of the Unippac system in the last twelve months, adds Steven Stanley, business director for Unipol PP licensing and catalyst. ‘By incorporating this technology, LUKOIL-Neftekhim can expect to receive valuable enhancements to production rate, aim grade and monomer consumption efficiencies.’