PP production in Russia made about 620 KT

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Overall polypropylene (PP) production in Russia in 2010 grew by 4% and made about 620 KT, according to MRC analysts.


Long-term shutdowns for scheduled maintenance as well as technical and delivery problems that periodically occurred at some plants didn't allow the Russian producers to increase PP production considerably. Total volume of production over 2010 grew only by 4% compared to 2009 and made about 620 KT.


Last year Nizhnekamskneftehim, Tomskneftehim and Stavrolen increased their production volumes. Neftechimia and Ufaorgsintez, on the contrary, reduced their production. Over the last two years PP production in Russia grew more than by 120 KT. In 2011, as initially estimated, total volume of production will increase by 20 KT and make about 640 KT.


MRC

525 KT of PVC-S produced in Russia in 2010

MOSCOW (MRC) -- Summarizing 2010 total volume of suspension PVC produced in Russia made 525.3 KT, according to MRC analysts. In 2010 gain in PVC-S production in Russia made 4.7 % or more than 23.5 KT.


Despite several production suspensions, the most considerable gain in production was marked at Sayanskchimplast where overall production increased by 17.6 KT or more than by 7%.


Also production gain was marked at Kaustik (Sterlitamak) - by 6.5 KT and Sibur-Neftechim - by 1.2 KT.


The ⌠ethylene conflict between Kaustik and Salavatnefteorgsintez didn't allow the former to increase the overall production. Before that in 2009 Kaustik reconstructed PVC production having increased capacities up to 180 KT.


Plastcard (Volgograd) continues working with loading which exceeds nominal capacity of 90 KT. But last year because of technical problems PVC-S production was lowered by 1.7 KT.


MRC

New health and safety qualification for process industries

(PRW) -- The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) has launched an introductory qualification for people working in the process industries.


The NEBOSH Award in Safety, Health and Environment for the Process Industries will demonstrate competence in general health and safety, process safety and environmental management.


The qualification is made up of four units. The first covers workplace safety, addressing such issues such as risk assessment and control; fire, electrical and transport safety; manual handling and hazardous substances.


The second unit looks more closely at risk assessment and includes a work-based assessment. Unit 3 deals with process safety, including common risks and controls; containment; plant integrity and emergency response. Unit 4 addresses environmental management and covers control of emissions and environmental risk assessments.


MRC

EuPC will fight Italy's ban on plastic bags

(SJAFilms) -- The European Plastics Converters (EuPC) has confirmed that it will fight Italy's ban on plastic bags, saying that it violates EU packaging legislation.


On 1 January 2011, Italian legislation came in that requires retailers to only offer biodegradable, cloth or paper bags and not polyethylene ones. The legislation has been described as shortsighted by the EuPC and said it failed to take into account existing EU law or the recyclability of plastic packaging.


Alexandre Dangis, Managing Director EuPC said "This law demonstrates that the Italian government is in breach of EU legislation and in particular that of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive as there is not sufficient scientific reasoning behind it."


A complaint has been lodged a complaint with the European Commision with Mr Dangis adding "We shall make every effort to challenge this legislation from a legal point of view."


The Welsh Assembly Government is introducing a 5p charge on single-use carrier bags from October.


MRC

Octal on course to complete second phase expansion

(Plastemart) -- Global PET packaging leader Octal is on course to complete the second phase of its operational expansion in 2011 after securing a new round of funding from six Middle Eastern banks. Phase two is planned to be commissioned from June 2012, and is expected to add 527,000 tpa of production, making Octal the world's largest producer of PET on one site and the largest PET manufacturer in the world.


Octal officials inked an agreement for US$296 mln in senior term loans from a financing group. As per a release, Octal's current shareholders Muscat Overseas and Oman & Emirates Investment Holding Co. also have agreed to provide a junior debt facility of US$15 mln.


MRC