Sibur to build one of the biggest industrial complexes in Russia

UST-LUGA (SIBUR) -- Construction work has been started in the territory of Ust-Luga merchant seaport under the construction project of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) transshipment complex.

The new export terminal will be the largest Russian LPG transshipment terminal. Its favorable geographic position will enable SIBUR to transport its products to previously inaccessible markets of North-West Europe.

Execution of numerous projects for substantial increase of associated petroleum gas processing volumes in Russia leads to increase in volumes of liquefied petroleum gases (LPG) and stable natural gasoline (SNG) produced therefrom. SIBUR's strategic benchmark is reprocessing of this gas chemical feedstock in the territory of Russia to final HPV polymers: polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, and polystyrene. To this effect, the Company is executing large-scale projects for construction of appropriate petrochemical complexes in Tyumen Oblast, Nizhniy Novgorod Oblast, and other regions.

MRCMRC Reference

Sibur Holding is the largest Russian petrochemical group.

Shareholders:
Gazprombank (70% minus 1 share);
Gazfond (25% plus 1 share);
5% reserved for option program.

The share in the Russian market in 2008:

polyethylene - 11.1%;

polypropylene - 16% (including PP-random - 11.2%);
ABS - 5.2%;
PVC - 8.1%.

MOSCOW (MRC) - In Q1 2010 investments into PVC formed USD7,4 mln., which is 30% less than same period last year - according to MRC Annual reports.

This year converters were investing more selectively. By Q1 2010 results the investments were towards three processing technologies: profile extrusion, injection molding and compounding.

Narodniy Plastik (mixing stations, extrusion lines) became a leading investor with USD2,7 mln. of investments.

In Q1 2010 Politech-Pipe became the second leading investor with over USD1,5 mln. into thermoplastic machines for PE, PP and PVC pipe fittings.

Profine-Rus, Vintek, Plastic, Veka Rus, Dielectric cable systems, Dekkennink Rus should also be mentioned among profile producers who made 19% of all the investments in January-March 2010.

MRC

For more detailed information about investments into equipment please refer to MRC Annual reports.

EL SEGUNDO (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Cereplast, Inc., a leading manufacturer of proprietary bio-based, sustainable plastics, today announced that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Ashland Distribution, a commercial unit of Ashland Inc., to supply bioplastic resins to their global distribution business. This partnership reflects Cereplast's overall growth strategy and continued commitment to expanding the company's distribution reach in North America.

Ashland Distribution is a leading plastics and chemicals distributor in North America, and part of Ashland Inc., which posted more than $8 billion in annual revenue last year. Under the agreement, Ashland Distribution will distribute Cereplast Compostables(R) and Hybrids Resins(R) to converters and manufacturers throughout North America, to Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United States. Cereplast's bioplastic resins enable Ashland Distribution to supply its customers with bio-based materials, an environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastic.

MRC

(Azom.com) -- The Chinese company Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Group Co., Ltd has opted for Arkema's PVC production processes for a 230 kT PVC Suspension production plant, a 35 kT PVC Emulsion plant, and a 6 kT Chlorinated PVC plant. As part of the cooperation agreement reached in November 2008 with Arkema, Aker Solutions will prepare the basic engineering for two of the plants initially.

" The licensing agreement concluded for three licenses confirms the remarkable quality of Arkema's PVC production processes, which makes them one of the most efficient PVC technologies in the world. Our partnership with Aker Solutions, one of the world's leading engineering and construction groups, has undoubtedly been a key element in the choice made by Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Group Co., Ltd,", states Otto Takken, Executuve Vice President of Arkema's Vinyl Products business segment.

" The choice made by Qinghai Salt Lake Industry Group Co., Ltd for Arkema's technology in combination with Aker Solutions' solid expertise in designing and delivering projects in China, is a further illustration of the successful partnership between our companies," says Johan Cnossen, SVP - Europe, Middle East and Africa for Aker Solutions' Process and Construction business.

MRCMRC Reference

Arkema.

The share in the Russian market in 2008:

PVC - 0.2%;

EVA - 1.1%.

Annual sales growth in Russia, during the recent 5 years:

PVC - 69%;

PE - 121%.

Imports by polymers processing technologies:

coating;

cable extrusion.

(plastemart) -- Rising costs have prompted Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco to relocate their planned joint venture (JV) petrochemical project from Ras Tanura to Al-Jubail. Existing infrastructure at Al Jubail adjacent to a refinery under construction by Saudi Aramco Total Refining and Petrochemical (Satorp), will help control the escalating costs of construction.

The JV is being scaled down to include one cracker, rather than two.
Since the original Ras Tanura project was to be integrated with Aramco's existing Ras Tanura refinery, the relocation has also resulted in cancellation of the refinery expansion. The Satorp project, known as the Jubail Export Refinery, which will have a processing capacity of 400,000 bpd and will also produce paraxylene (PX), benzene and polymer grade propylene (PGP).

As per original estimates, the proposed Ras Tanura project was to cost about US$20 bln, but these costs have escalated as projects have become more expensive. The project is likely to start up in 2014 or 2015. With the move to Al-Jubail and change in scope, the timing is expected to slip by several months.

MRCMRC Reference

Share in the Russian market, 2008:

polyethylene - 2.5% (including LLDPE - 33.1%);

polypropylene - 0.8% (including PP-impact - 1.1%);

polystyrene - 2.6%.

Annual sales growth in Russia, recent 5 years:

polyethylene - 55%;

polypropylene - 28%;

polystyrene - 2%.

Imports by processing technologies:

pipe extrusion;

film extrusion;

sheet extrusion;

foaming.