Together with PBR and PIR, SSBR will complete a range of primary goods required to produce state-of-the-art tires and will make the Company an attractive supplier for the tire industry. That is the objective put forward by the Management of Nizhnekamskneftekhim Inc for the Synthetic Isoprene Rubber Plant, which has already started to implement this project.

The opening vistas for the Company fully justify the impending investments, because the up-to-date range of rubber types added with SSBR is a real step to producing “green”, i.e., environment friendly tires. “There is only one question”, according to Edward Tulchinsky, Director of the Plant: “How far is the domestic tire industry prepared for that? – Unfortunately, we have for the time being to plan selling our future products to qualified consumers abroad. Some time or other, the novel rubber market will set up in Russia as well. Nevertheless, we are committed to launch a 50 000 TPA Unit, meant chiefly for exports.”

Equipment procurement and large-scale construction of the Unit are scheduled for commencement in April 2004.