Kazakhstan advances 300ktpa butadiene, synthetic rubber project

Astana, Kazakhstan – Kazakhstan has awarded Sinopec Engineering Group the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for a butadiene and synthetic rubber project in the Kazakh Atyrau region.

The plant is designed to produce over 300 kilotonnes of products per year, with commissioning scheduled for 2029 and around 750 permanent jobs expected, said operator Butadiene LLP 31 March.

Output will include butadiene, as a key component for synthetic rubbers, as well as styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) used for in “road surfaces, adhesives, plastics.”

Other products include divinyl-styrene synthetic rubber, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and isobutane-isobutylene fractions for use in MTBE, butyl rubber and isoprene production.

According to the statement, the project will support “deep processing of hydrocarbons,” reduce import dependence and “increase exports of high-value-added products.”

Butadiene LLP is the operator of the $1 billion (€880,000) butadiene rubber joint-venture project currently being constructed by Tatnfet and local company KazMunayGas. (ERJ report)

The project was initially unveiled in 2023 and was set for completion by 2026.

At the time KazMunayGas stated that the plant will produce upto 38ktpa of styrene butadiene rubber; 45ktpa of divinyl styrene rubber and 130ktpa of isobutane-isobutylene fraction.