SIBUR Holding, Russia’s petrochemicals company and one of the most rapidly growing petrochemicals businesses globally, and China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec), China’s energy and chemical company, have closed the deal to set up a joint venture (JV) at the Amur Gas Chemical Complex after obtaining all the necessary approvals from the regulators of both countries. SIBUR and Sinopec will hold interest in the JV in the amount of 60% and 40%, respectively.
Set to become the world’s largest basic polymer production facility, Amur GCC will have a capacity of 2.7 mtpa, including 2.3 mtpa of polyethylene and 400 ktpa of polypropylene, and will be producing a wide range of grades. The construction of Amur GCC proceeds in synch with the gradual ramp-up of Gazprom’s Amur Gas Processing Plant to its full capacity, so that the latter could supply ethane and LPG to Amur GCC for processing into high value-added products. The completion of construction and commissioning is scheduled for 2024.
The Amur GCC project will help attract international investments in the Russian economy while also making a considerable contribution to the national programme of growing the nation’s non-commodity exports. Given the facility’s geography, its products will be targeting Asian markets, primarily China, which is the largest consumer of polymers globally. The Amur GCC project is expected to be included in an intergovernmental agreement between Russia and China.
Amur GCC will set the tone in global environmental and technology standards, in particular through its reliance on renewable energy sources.
Amur GCC’s budget is tentatively estimated at USD 10bn to USD 11bn and is subject to adjustments as the project progresses. In December, Amur GCC attracted USD 1.5bn in bridge financing from a syndicate of Russian banks. Gazprombank acted as the lead arranger and lender, with Otkritie and Sberbank as arrangers and lenders.
