Russia's state expert review agency issues negative conclusion on installing TPA unit at Tatneft refinery
KAZAN. Feb 14 (Interfax) - The Main Department of State Expertise (Glavgosexpertiza) has issued a negative conclusion on the project for constructing a terephthalic acid (TPA) unit at the Taneco refinery, part of Tatneft .
TPA is a raw material used in the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
The reasons for the negative conclusion were not disclosed.
The expert review of the TPA unit project, prepared by GSI-Giprokauchuk LLC with a planned capacity of 1 million tonnes per year, was issued on February 12, according to the Unified State Register of Expert Opinions on Design Documentation for Capital Construction Projects (GIS EGRZ).
Tatneft's press service has not yet responded to Interfax's inquiry about how Glavgosexpertiza's negative conclusion will affect the company's plans.
It was previously reported that Tatneft intended to build a terephthalic acid production facility to supply raw materials for the Ekopet plant, which the oil company acquired in June 2021. Tatneft purchased shares and stakes in the companies within the group from Trust Bank for 6.45 billion rubles, acquiring 100% of JSC Ekopet (the production complex), 100% of TD Ecopolymers LLC (the trading house), 100% of the industrial park Balttekprom LLC as well as claims against these companies.
In April 2024, the project for a TPA unit with a capacity of 1 million tonnes per year at the Taneco refinery underwent public hearings in Tatarstan. According to materials published on Tatneft's website for these hearings, GSI-Giprokauchuk developed the TPA unit project under a contract signed in July 2023 with the project's design contractor, China KunLun Contracting & Engineering Corp.
Tatneft plans to invest 91.2 billion rubles in constructing the terephthalic acid and biofuel components plant, as reported by the Investment Development Agency of Tatarstan (IDA RT) following an Investment Council meeting in October 2023, where the project was approved. The company plans to supply TPA for Ekopet's needs, as well as for the domestic market and exports. In addition to TPA, the plant will produce bioethanol (used as a motor fuel additive) and ether-aldehyde fraction.
The project's implementation is expected to take 10 years. A business plan and financial model have been developed, land plots for construction have been identified and documentation and approval of key project parameters are in progress, according to IDA RT materials.
PET is used to produce PET bottles and cans, food packaging and other products.
