Kazakh petrochemicals group Neftekhim Ltd. has invested around 14 million euros ($14.9 million) to upgrade the polypropylene production operation at its complex at Pavlodar, Kazakhstan.
The company has been adding a new polypropylene polymerization and compounding line provided by German equipment supplier Leistritz Extrusion Technology of Nuremberg, along with a new testing laboratory.
Neftekhim mixes the PP with stabilizers and antioxidants to produce compound material utilized in the manufacture of plastic films and concerted packaging including sacks for products like cement.
The company is part of a growing petrochemical sector cluster in the Pavlodar special economic development zone where it produces propylene, PP and the high octane fuel additive MTBE in a technology partnership with the Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant.
In December last year, Neftekhim, whose operation opened in 2009, launched its first PP granulation plant. It previously only produced the polymer in powder form, which limited its use, since local companies could not use the powder.
The new plant has allowed the company to turn out 4,800 metric tons per year of granulated PP with 60 percent of it now dedicated to the domestic market and the rest being exported to Russia, China and Turkey. The plant equipment and technologies were also provided by Leistritz.