Toyo Engineering Corporation (TOYO), with cooperation of Mitsui & Co., Ltd (Mitsui), has been awarded a contract to construct a 70,000 tons/year bisphenol-A (BPA) plant and a 65,000 tons/year polycarbonate (PC) plant for OAO Kazanorgsintez (KOS) located in Kazan, the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia. TOYO undertakes detailed design and procurement of equipment and material for both plants. The plants are scheduled for completion in 2007. The project is the first BPA and PC plants in Russia and will employ the BPA license owned by Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. and the PC license owned by Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corp. Both Japanese licenses are the most advanced technologies and highly valued by the client for their low environmental load and high safety.
KOS is the largest polyethylene producer in the country. The project will allow KOS to produce BPA from acetone and phenol supplied in-house and to produce PC with the aim of achieving a high added value of the feedstock with integrated system of production from raw material to finished product. Since the demand for PC is growing sharply in Russia as well as in other countries, KOS intends to export the product upon completion of the plants, not only to the domestic market, but also to the European and Asian markets that are in an excess demand situation. KOS has been reorganized from a governmental organization under the former Soviet to a private enterprise in the new Russian economic framework and is operating its existing facilities effectively to substitute its products for imports and to satisfy new demands. It is expected that new enterprises like KOS will develop new businesses, serving as a boost for Russia's economy.
Factors that helped TOYO receive the order include TOYO's broad experience in constructing monomer and polymer plants, TOYO's experience and know-how accumulated from the construction of more than 60 plants in Russia over 40 years, including during the Soviet era, as well as TOYO's local know-how accumulated for many years, such as Russian design standards. Further Mitsui & Co.,Ltd. contributed to TOYO through its highly comprehensive strengths as shown in its coordinating activities between the parties concerned and in regional development functions.
Dec. 28, 2004