There has never been such a proper moment to make petrochemical sector of the country one of the world leaders. Such statement was made by world-known geochemist Aleksey Kontorovich at a session of JSC “Tatneftehiminvest-holding” Board held by Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov on November 1.

Aleksey Kontorovich is the Chairman of Scientific board of the Russian Academy of Sciences on geology and development of oil and gas fields, research supervisor of the A.A. Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics (the Siberian branch of Russian academy of sciences).

The following issues have been debated at the session, - development of gas sector of the Eastern Siberia and prospects of providing hydrocarbons for Tatarstan and Bashkortostan petrochemical cluster.

Gas industry of the Eastern Siberia faces the task to develop deposits of fat rich gas in Nadym-Pursk interfluve called “Novy Urengoy”. By 2020 gas production in this area can make 175 bln cubic meters per year. Though, the capacity of gas refining plants here is just 22 bln cubic meters. By the way, the forecasted volumes of fat gas production are enough to create the largest petrochemical clusters in the world.

The Russian energy ministry is working out this area within the general scheme of gas sector development. However, the academician supposes that published materials provide underestimated capacities of gas refining and petrochemical enterprises. By words of A. Kontorovich it can lead to unqualified use of fat gas on a large scale. Thus, he suggests developing three big petrochemical clusters (West – Siberian, Ufa – Kazan and North – West) in a harmonious way.

Moreover, relevant systems of pipeline transport are to be created. The pressure on the part of primary producers in terms of price policy, volume and delivery destinations, lobbying of interests of certain petrochemical monopolies can impede realization of the mentioned task. Therefore, we need cooperation based on a government program, not competition of regions (future clusters), and this program should define specialization of each cluster and provide cheap raw material base.

Rustam Minnikhanov supported the speaker’s ideas and said the most urgent problem today is providing Tatarstan and Bashkortostan petrochemical industry with raw materials. He criticized the federal project of gas export from Western Siberia bypassing Volga Federal District which lacks resources. He thinks the connection of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan and supply of the processed products to the West will be more efficient.

Head of the Republic suggested A. Kontorovich preparing the report to submit it for the federal authorities and organize a working group with participation of “Tatneftehiminvest-holding”, “Tatneft” and “TAIF”.
Tatarstan and Bashkortostan are planning to build a pipeline “Siberia – Povolzhie” that will let creating the Privolzhsky oil-gas-chemical cluster.

Presidents of Tatarstan and Bashkortostan Rustam Minnikhanov and Rustem Khamitov addressed Russian Government with a principal proposal to make amendments in the Plan of developing oil and gas chemistry till 2030.