Pirelli, Rosneft appoint Synthos as SR technology partner
Milan, Italy – Italian tire-maker Pirelli and Russian oil and gas company Rosneft have identified Synthos – a manufacturer of chemical raw materials based in Poland – as their technological partner to carry out research, and study production and supply relating to synthetic rubber in Nakhodka, Russia.
In a press release on 16 April, Pirelli said that the partnership was being carried out in the context of the FEPCO (Far East Petrochemical Company) petrochemical cluster.
Pirelli, Rosneft and Synthos have signed an MoU to conduct feasibility studies on various topics including the operation of the plant, market studies, investments and estimates of operating costs.
The three groups also expressed their intention to use the FEPCO petrochemical cluster to produce synthetic rubber with the goal of supplying, among others, Pirelli plants in the APAC (Asia Pacific) region.
Rosneft established Far East Petrochemical Company (FEPCO) – originally named Vostochnaya Neftechemicheskaya (VNHK) – in 2011 in order to develop a petrochemical complex to cover the needs of Russia and neighbouring countries in the Far East for polymers and a large scope of hydrocarbon derivatives.
In October 2014, Rosneft and Pirelli signed an MoU in the area of R&D, producing and shipping of synthetic rubber in the Russian port city of Nakhodka, within the framework of the FEPCO petrochemical cluster.
The synthetic rubber which would eventually be produced in Nakhodka, is of particular interest as it is an eco-friendly material used in the production of “green tires”, which improves fuel efficiency and grip in both wet and dry conditions.
(Image source: Rosneft)
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