News

Staff members of Nizhnekamskneftekhim Design & Engineering Center took part in a specialized conference organized by Aspen Technology in Moscow. Event attendees, representing a number of big industrial companies in Russia, projected their digitalization strategy for chemical and petrochemical industries, spoke about new trends and experience in application of AspenTech software directly in the chemical industry and in the design.

Nina Sharipova, Head of Design Automation Department at Nizhnekamskneftekhim D&E Center, made a presentation on “Process engineering support by modeling methods based on Aspen Tech solutions.” She also answered questions of conference participants on modeling tools’ application and achieved practical effect.

It was stated at the conference that modeling systems are successfully used by PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim in the design because of gained experience and profound knowledge both in the field of petrochemical technologies and implementation of Aspen Tech solutions, which allowed to develop a significant number of various process models.

PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim participated in the Ural International Scientific and Practical Forum “Polymers - 2018. Production. Recycling. Logistics", which took place on October 4 in the city of Revda, Sverdlovsk Region, on site of one of the largest plants for production of extrusion materials.

Representatives of 35 companies from Russia, Germany, Austria, Poland and Canada have attended the Forum. More than 100 participants - managers and technologists of processing enterprises and scientists gathered together to discuss the development of the polymer industry and share experience.

PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim was represented by specialists of Commercial division and R&D Center, who presented three reports. Their papers gave special focus on the results of the development of new polystyrene grades for food packaging as well as new popular grades of polyolefins with improved characteristics and reviewed general characteristics and application field of PE 5118NM, PE 6146KM, PE 5115R, PE 6347K, PP 8440R, PP 4222L polymers along with their advantages compared to current market brands.

The presentation highlighted main advantages due to which PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim is selected for cooperation, specifically: high product quality, wide range of brands, scientific background of R&T center, technical support, convenient logistics, product availability for consumers, delivery according to the agreed schedule, reasonable prices, product fulfillment, social responsibility.

Azat Bikmurzin, General Director, was solemnly awarded a commendation at the annual symposium of “Bulletin of Civil Procedure ” journal, held at the Arbitration Court of the Volga District of Kazan on October 5; the letter itself was officially handed in to Aidar Sultanov, Head of Legal Division of the Company, by Pavel Krasheninnikov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation, Doctor of Law. The letter states: "Thanks to your participation, we have the opportunity to publish academic papers of the best representatives of procedural science of Russia."

Nizhnekamskneftekhim has been cooperating with “Vestnik of Civil Procedure” journal for 8 years. During this period the journal has become a recognized and highly authoritative academic publication in the field of procedural law.

Two new pyrolysis furnaces of SRT-VI type were put into operation at Ethylene plant of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim. Their construction was carried out under the production facilities modernization and expansion program. The main advantage of the new equipment is that it is energy- efficient and environmentally safe. Furthermore, their implementation will reduce the consumption of fuel gas and reduce the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere.

To date, 18 pyrolysis furnaces are installed at ethylene plant: 11 of them are in operation, the rest are in reserve. Two new SRT-VI furnaces will be able to replace 4 old ones as they show higher capacity and selectivity. Configuration of the furnaces allows to increase the yield of end products - ethylene, propylene, benzene and produce a conditioned super high pressure steam.

On October 3, 2018, as part of the Russian Energy Week 2018 forum, PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim signed a long-term loan agreement covered by  the insurance policy of Euler Hermes for about 240 million Euros until the end of 2033.

The creditor will be a consortium of six banks, representing mainly the Federal Republic of Germany and organized Deutsche Bank AG. In addition to Deutsche Bank, the original lenders include UniCredit Bank AG, Bayerische Landesbank, Landesbank Baden-Wurttemberg, DZ BANK AG.

The agreement was signed by Azat Bikmurzin, the General Director of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim, and Daniel Schmand representing Deutsche Bank AG, who is the head of the global trade finance department, and also heads the commercial banking department for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). The signing ceremony was attended by the President of the Tatarstan Republic Rustam Minnikhanov and the General Director of TAIF Albert Shigabutdinov.

The funds of the credit line will be used to finance the contract with Siemens as part of the project for the construction of a new electric power plant with a capacity of 495 MW (CCGT-TPP) being implemented by PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim.

PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim – is one of the largest petrochemical companies in Europe, it  takes up the leading position among domestic producers of synthetic rubber, plastics and ethylene. The Company is part of TAIF Group. The company was founded in 1967. The main production facilities are located in the city of Nizhnekamsk, Republic of Tatarstan. The range of products output comprises more than 120 items. The products of the company are exported to 50 countries in Europe, America and Southeast Asia. The share of export in the total volume of production is about 50%.

TAIF group is one of the largest industrial investment companies in Russia with significant assets and a strong production potential, a flexible form of administration and a high level of management. TAIF group of companies, which unites 47 subsidiary and affiliated companies, operates in many areas. Five of them are basic: oil and gas processing and petrochemistry, energy production, construction industry, investment and service sectors. All enterprises of the Group are closely interconnected financially, technically, technologically and in management. TAIF is the largest holding in terms of production volumes among the enterprises of the petrochemical industry in Russia.

Deutsche Bank AG is the leader of the German banking industry, having a strong position in Europe, North and South America and the Asia-Pacific region. Deutsche Bank AG provides financing for trade operations, investment banking services, commercial banking services, banking services to individuals and offers products and services for managing assets and large private capital. The bank's clients include corporations, government agencies, institutional investors, small and medium-sized businesses, and individuals.

Euler Hermes is a world leader in the field of insurance and receivables management, as well as a recognized expert in the field of credit insurance. The history of Euler Hermes has more than 100 years, during which the company has experienced a series of ups and downs with the global economy, having accumulated considerable expertise in the analysis of financial and economic risks on an international scale. Company's offices are located in more than 50 countries.

Nizhnekamskneftekhim has successfully passed the second round of the competition for the award of the Tatarstan Republic Government for quality in the “Business Excellence” nomination. Such a conclusion was made by the expert committee members after checking the production and social facilities of the company. It was held from September 17 to 19.

The experts evaluated the activities of 14 divisions and the results achieved by them according to 9 criteria from financial indicators to staff satisfaction. Conclusions on the strength area of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim's activities, as well as possible areas for improvement, were summarized by the committee.

The competition for award of the Tatarstan Republic Government for quality is held in two rounds among republican enterprises and organizations annually. The first round is held in absentia (in June, July) - the contestants send materials about themselves and their activities for the last 5 years to the expert committee in the form of a report. At the second round, the commission gets acquainted with the course of affairs when visiting a plant where evidence is collected that confirms the materials of the report. The issue of awarding the prize is decided according to results of the two rounds. Winning the competition gives the right to use the quality mark - the emblem of the competition to promote its brand for three years, and also contributes to strengthening its position in the market and enhancing the company's image.

PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim participates in competitions since 2000. It became the laureate of the competition for prize award of the Tatarstan Republic Government in 2004, 2010 and 2014, and it became the laureate of the Russian Federation in 2007 and 2014. The company received another award of the Independent Commonwealth Award for achievement in the field of product and service quality in 2008.

It is about the 160-apartment house number 52 and the 80-apartment house number 56 in Korabelnaya Street in the 49th microdistrict. Eighty eight petrochemists’ families got the keys of their own apartments - 49 of them under the social mortgage program and other 39 families under the additional housing program of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim.

There are 10 floors in the new buildings, and the total living area is about 12,500 square meters. All of them are shell and core and have interior and exterior doors, plastic windows, plumbing and fire extinguishing system. Each apartment is equipped with water, gas and electricity meters and heat regulators.

The first place was taken by the team of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim following the results of the XXIV Spartakiad of the Tatarstan Republican organization of the trade union of workers in the chemical industries. This year the Spartakiad was conducted in Kazan in the CRC Solnechniy territory from September 7 to 9.

The main competitions for chemists and petrochemists were timed to coincide with two anniversaries - the 60th anniversary of PJSC Kazanorgsintez and the 100th anniversary of Roskhimprofsoyuz. Eleven teams arrived to the current Spartakiad with more than 300 people competed in 7 types of competitions: field-and-track relay, tug-of-war, men's and women's volleyball, table tennis, football, chess.

PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim representatives were the first in the relay, women's volleyball and table tennis, and they became the second in tug-of-war and men's volleyball. Thus, the top prize of the Spartakiad - the cup – was landed to petrochemists. By the way, our athletes hold the lead positions in these competitions for many years.

On September 7, 2018, a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company was held in Kazan under the guidance of Ruslan Shigabutdinov, the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The members of the Board of Directors approved plans of activities of committees for audit, personnel and remunerations for 2018 – 2019. The Board of Directors was informed of the results of financial and operational activities, about fulfilment of capital investments and capital investments financing plan for the first half of 2018 of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim and with relation to Nizhnekamskneftekhim Group of Companies in general. During this period the plan for production of commercial products was ahead of target for 6.9%, the production increase made 101% in comparable prices over the previous year and sales proceeds reached 87.5 billion rubles. The members of the Board of Directors have taken in consideration the information about the status of accounts receivable and accounts payable of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim as of July 1, 2018, as well as the information about analysis of efficiency of investing in subsidiary and affiliated companies of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim following the results of the first half of 2018. The Board of Directors was also informed about actual payment by PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim of taxes and dues to the consolidated budget of the Republic of Tatarstan as per the results of the first half of 2018. By the decision of the Board of Directors Guzeliya Abzalina is appointed as the Head of Internal Audit Department of the Company.

To install the blind on the gas pipeline, remove the injured from the dangerous area and provide first aid to him – these tasks were the basis of trainings in which the employees of non-professional emergency and rescue teams have taken part. Their knowledge and skills in acting under the emergency situations they demonstrated on August 29 at training area of the company. 15 teams, each consisting of five people, the representatives of plants and subsidiaries of the company, have taken part in competitions. All teams have shown a good professional training level and coordination under the conditions of a training emergency situation. They demonstrated high response speed and skill during performance of tasks. Eventually, the team of Styrene and Polyester Resins Plant was first, the employees of OOO Ethylene Pipelines – NKNH come second and representatives of Synthetic Rubber Plant were third. The similar trainings among non-professional emergency and rescue teams are carried out in the Company every year. They help the employees of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim to improve their skills in emergency response.

People’s happiness and friendship were the keynote of celebration of the Day of the City and the Day of Republic, and this is exactly what the celebration is called - “Happiness in the City”. The weather has also made its contribution to the celebration, having provided Nizhnekamsk people with a hot and sunny day. The festivities started with colourful parade at Mira avenue with 4.5 thousand Nizhnekamsk people participating in it. The procession of labor collectives was headed by the column of petrochemical workers. It was the most bright and numerous, as it was represented by about a thousand of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim employees and employees of its subsidiary companies. In front of the procession they bore the banners of the Company and a high official reward-the Order of Lenin, received for labor achievements of personnel. The history of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftelkhim is an integral part of the history of Nizhnekamsk and of our big country in whole. For its more than half a century history, the Company developed the reputation of a reliable business partner, gained a unique experience of mastering the state of the art technologies. It is a brand known in many countries of the world. Today, the Company is a world leader for production of isoprene rubber, the third world supplier of butyl rubbers and is one of the ten top global producers of synthetic rubber and the second supplier of plastics in Russia. Multicoloured banners, compositions of air balloons made the procession bright and unique. Decorated in a festive style, the trucks of “Kamaz” grade blended seamlessly with the symmetrical lines of petrochemical workers. One of them was symbolic of the Company image, the other one was symbolic of people’s friendship, here, parade spectators were greeted by actors in national costumes. They were followed by the staff of subsidiary companies of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim and sports teams of the Company: football and hockey teams. The celebration ceremony smoothly moved to the park Neftechimik – one of the biggest celebration areas of the city. A diverse entertainment program was prepared here for all who came. The representatives of Neftechimik sports club and a hockey club of the same name held interesting and breath-taking contests. Number of families participated in merry games and relays. In addition, the sports club Neftechimik presented at the celebration its sports sections and children could sign up for free calisthenics, athletics, cross-country skiing and wrestling sections. The sportsmen of Nefteсhimik club prepared one more present for residents and guests of Nizhnekamsk – they staged exhibition performances and gave master classes, the hockey club had a meeting with its fans. For one day, the Neftechimik park turned to be a place of a real gastronomical boom. There was a festival of “Street Food”. Over ten restaurants and cafes of the city demonstrated, competing with each other, their culinary talents. The employees of Neftekhim Public Catering Division also demonstrated their skills and knowledge. They gave lessons in cooking dumplings, pizza, pancakes with cheese, quesadilla with chicken fillet and sandwiches for those who desired. All day local actors and amateur entertaining groups of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim gave special program performances, creating a festive mood for the visitors of Neftechimik park. Within the scope of street culture festival “Happiness in the City” there was also a competitive screening of the films of the World Street Film Festival in the park. The residents and guests of Nizhnekamsk could see the short-length films of young stage managers and give their votes for the film they liked. Already in the evening the big stage was again engaged by the performing artists of “Romantiki” entertainment group and artists of performance groups of the city who made all the visitors enjoy their performance. 35 thousand Nizhnekamsk people were the spectators of the evening program. The culmination of the festivities in the Park of Petrochemical Workers was a long awaited concert of the Russian group “PIZZA”. The artists performed their popular hit songs. At 10 p.m. the sky in the park was illuminated by bright fireworks.

The searchers of Neftekhimik team returned from their last remembrance expedition. The last two weeks, from August 7-27, they spent in Volgograd Region. Their tent camp of 20 PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim employees was situated near the village Panshino – at the place of fierce battles of the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945. During the searching activities, the team of searchers managed to find the mortal remains of two soldiers, as well as helmets and rifle ammunition carriers. Identification discs that are considered to be the most valuable findings and may contain the information about a war dead were not available with the soldiers Together with the members of Neftekhimik team, about fifty searchers from different cities of the country were on the “Remembrance Watch” this summer. During excavations, they managed to find and inter remains of 9 soldiers found in the vicinity of Panshino village. The next expedition of the team is fixed up for April of the future year. During its 15 year activities, the team found the remains of more than 800 soldiers. PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim provides a great assistance in organizing of each expedition thus contributing to military- patriotic education of the young generation, paying last respects and tribute to the memory of the servicemen who died in the battlefields of the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945.

PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim is implementing the reconstruction of the most important and significant, for the Company and the city of Nizhnekamsk, environmental facility – Biologic Treatment Facilities (BTF). The treatment of 21 % of municipal effluents of the city and 79 % of effluents of enterprises, located at industrial site, is taking place here. It is the very first environmental facility of the Company put on stream in 1966. Already for more than 50 years, PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim has Biologic Treatment Facilities on its balance sheet and carries out their reconstruction. Currently, the second stage of this large reconstruction is carried out which was started in 2015. The first reconstruction stage of Biologic Treatment Facilities was implemented in 2016, its costs have made over 600 million rubles. As a result, the concentration of suspended matter in purified effluents reduced in 2017 for 26 %, the content of benzene, toluene and ethyl benzene reduced for more than 90 %, content of methanol for 32%, concentration of sulfides for 27%, phenols for 14% and formaldehyde for 6 % compared to those of 2016. Today, within the scope of the second stage, a reconstruction of mechanical treatment unit for chemically contaminated effluents is going on at Biologic Treatment Facilities site. 922 million rubles will be provided for financing. Installation works of pipelines of storm water sewage, of modular type pump house for pumping off storm water, as well as piles for process chutes of sand catchers are complete today. Currently dismantling of out of operation methane tank is in process, lay out of underground communications, reinforcement of buildings and construction of preaeration tanks, as well as of the pump house and inlet chamber, is carried out. Within the scope of reconstruction, a replacement of the boiler house, operating on fuel oil, by the gas boiler house of block-modular type is planned. Pilot scale tests are at the moment in process at Biologic Treatment Facilities: the specialists are working on the process of removal of light volatile hydrocarbons from chemically contaminated effluents and system of their subsequent treatment. This process will permit to improve the state of atmospheric air. Petrochemical workers intend to start this year the construction of offsite storm water header. Its length is 15 kilometers. The header will be installed at a considerable distance from residential area. Its construction will cost the Company about 1.6 billion rubles.

Golden, silver, bronze badges of merits can be obtained by petrochemical workers, the participants of the first festival of all-Russia sports and health complex “Ready for Labor and Defense” in accordance with the achieved results. It was held on August 25 on the ground of sports and health camp “Olympiyets». The events within the scope of RFL&D festival took place for the first time. More than 160 representatives of different divisions of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim decided to try themselves for strength. They demonstrated their athletic performance in 8 kinds of sport events of RFL&D complex: running, jumping, pull-up, dumbbell lifting and other. The participants of the festival can learn their achieved results personally. All data about achieved qualification scores is accessible in the automated information system of RFL&D complex in personal account.

A new facility was put on stream at Plastics Plant of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim. It is purposed for deep purification of hydrogen supplied from OAO TAIF-NK. This unit has been developed by the specialists of Research & Development Centre of the Company and has been installed during only 6 months. Heavy hydrocarbons, sulphur containing compounds, alcohols, carbon oxide and carbon dioxide, mechanical impurities and oils which are poisons for ethylene polymerization catalysts, are removed from hydrogen at the new unit Reaching of polymerization grade of hydrogen allows to save catalytic polymerization complex and improve the quality of produced polyethylene. The use of hydrogen produced at OAO TAIF-NK is alternative and economically viable.

Butyl Rubber Plant celebrated its 45th anniversary. On August 9, a ceremony was held to mark the anniversary in the event hall of the Plant management building. The General Director of PJSC NIzhnekamskneftekhim, Azat Bikmurzin, congratulated the personnel of the Plant with the 45th anniversary from the date of the first production of products. Over 50 employees of the Plant received Certificates of Appreciation and memorable gifts in celebration of the date. On July 28, 1973, the first bale of butyl rubber was produced at the chemical complex. At that time, it was produced by only two companies, in Canada and USA, therefore, this product was short supplied at the world petrochemical market. Other companies of the former Soviet Union also tried to start the production of butyl rubber. However, the start of the plant in Azerbaijan was not a success, but petrochemical workers of Nizhnekamsk managed to start its production. At present, the Butyl Rubber Plant of PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim is the third world supplier of butyl rubber and has a share of 17.9 % at the world market. During the period of 45 years, the production capacity of the Plant was increased for 7 times, from 30 to 220 thousand tons per year. Currently the Plant is exporting 90% of its production. Large tire companies of the world use butyl rubber in the production of tires. On May 18, 2016, its three millionth ton has been produced. Butyl Rubber Plant is also one of the largest world producers of halobutyl rubbers (HBR) applied in the production of tubeless tires. PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim started the production of this type of rubber in 2004. On April 24, 2017, a millionth ton of halo butyl rubber has been produced. In 2014, the personnel of Butyl Rubber Plant mastered the production of the food grade of butyl rubber, which is the component of rubber for production of chewing gum. In 2017, the plant staff put on stream the ninth polymerization system. It was designed based on state-of the art technical and instrumentation solutions, that enabled to increase the production capacity of the equipment, stabilize the quality of products and exclude harmful impact on the environment. As a result, the production capacity of 220 thousand tons per year was achieved. Particular attention is paid to improvement of the quality of commercial products, as well as of labor conditions at the Plant. Automatic rubber bale palletizing systems have been installed for that purpose – now the manual labor of the batch makers is replaced by the operation of three robotized palletizers. One of the main goals of Butyl Rubber Plant personnel is production of butyl and halobutyl rubbers of high quality, which is implemented by further improvement of all production processes respectively.

PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim became the first Russian petrochemical company to implement a legally significant Electronic Document Management (EDM) integrated with the company’s management system to work with international companies.

Technologically, the documentation is managed via platform Kontur Diadoc of EDO AO PF SKB Kontur operator.

In 2017, Nizhnekamskneftekhim started up a project of switching to a legally significant EDM to work with domestic counterparties. The switch procedure involved not only the integration solution that allows working with electronic documents directly in accounting system ERP, but also a fundamental change in the business processes. EDM with non-residents did not require significant efforts due to the interest of counterparties in establishing electronic exchange and the simplicity of the paperwork procedure proposed by SKB Kontur for the approval of legal significance by the parties.

The scope of the first stage of the exchange project included powers of attorney for the receipt of finished goods, which significantly shortened the processing time for shipment to overseas customers and saved the cost for documentation processing. In the future, the company plans to expand the list of documents to be exchanged electronically.

The use of international EDM will have a positive effect in the interaction between partners and will widen their coverage, as well as allow to indirectly facilitate the company’s document flow with currency control agents (customs, banks, tax authorities).

21 employees of Nizhnekamskneftekhim were presented with keys to their new apartments in a new residential building No. 33 on ul. Pobedy, 30. The housewarming party took place on Saturday, August 4.

The new 80-apartment house is located in the 49^th microdistrict. In the 10-storey house with a total area of ​​about 3800 square meters includes one and two-room apartments. PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim employees became owners of 16 apartments under the social mortgage program, and 5 more under the additional housing construction program.

Since 2005, 1219 apartments have been distributed among the company’s employees under the social mortgage program in total. Since 2015, the number of apartments distributed under the additional housing construction program made 1400. These programs are implemented by Nizhnekamskneftekhim jointly with the State Housing Fund under the President of the Republic of Tatarstan.

17 houses are expected to be built in the 49^th microdistrict. The new residential building No. 33 became the fifth one. Additionally, three new buildings in the microdistrict, two 80-apartment houses and one 160-apartment house, are highly near completion.

According to the results of the first half of 2018, the gain in commercial production in comparable prices to the same period last year amounted to 101%. In physical volume, output increased almost throughout the whole main commercial product mix making 1,275 thousand tons of products, which is 55 thousand tons more than for 6 months in 2017. 358 thousand tons of rubber were produced, which is 2 thousand tons more than the same period last year.

Revenue from sales exceeded 87.5 billion rubles, growth by the same period last year - 8.1%.

July 31 is a red-letter day for PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim since 51 years ago to the day the first product was produced at the central gas fractionation plant of the Company. Since 1967, the Company has been celebrating its birthday on July 31. Over more than half a century of its history, the company has made a good name and image as a reliable business partner and has gained unique experience in mastering modern technologies.

Today, Nizhnekamskneftekhim is the leading Russian company in production volume and product mix, it is a brand recognized not only in our country, but also in many countries of the world and continues its successful development.