Sales at Gazpromneft Bitumen Materials, operator of the Gazprom Neft bitumens business, increased to 1.88 million tonnes in 2016 — an increase of 10 percent on 2015. Sales of premium cements and binders, comprising predominantly modified bitumens (polymer—bitumen binders (PBBs) and polymer—modified bitumens (PMBs) increased by 75 percent to 105,000 tonnes, with the company further enhancing its competitiveness on the Russian market for high-technology road-construction products, as a result.
With the addition of a new asset — the NOVA-Brit plant — in 2016 the company’s bitumen business began proactive development into new market sectors for high-technology bitumen-derivative products. The enterprise, located in Vyazma, is unique in Russia, producing road, bridge and airfield binders, sealants, emulsions, and bitumen and asphalt connecting tapes. NOVA-Brit products are used in the construction of ultra-hardwearing road coverings and airfield pavements, including in inaccessible areas and regions of difficult terrain.
Improvements in supply and delivery technologies, and the development of transport and shipping infrastructure, have allowed a significant expansion in the geographic range to which deliveries of bitumen materials can be made, both on the internal Russian and international export markets.
Controlling and monitoring the authenticity of Gazprom Neft products has been made possible through a unique online service, the “Quality Control Product Passport”, introduced by the company in early 2016.
Dmitry Orlov, CEO, Gazpromneft Bitumen Materials, commented: “We are constantly developing, investigating domestic and international experience. The opening of our own R&D centre in 2016 has given us the opportunity to develop optimum formulations for binders in line with contractors’ specific requirements, testing and implement new production technologies in road coverings giving a longer serviceable life. The most modern highways in the country are now being built with innovative materials developed by our company.”
* Polymer—bitumen binders are based on traditional bitumens, with the addition of polymers and a plasticizer. Polymer—bitumen binders demonstrate better quality in comparison with traditional bitumen, including greater resistance to warping, better endurance under extreme temperatures, and greater resistance against deterioration.
Gazpromneft Bitumen Materials (Gazpromneft BM LLC) is a subsidiary of Gazprom Neft, specialising in the production and sale of bitumen products. Established in October 2014, the company now holds a leading position on the Russian bitumens market.
The company’s key production facilities are based in the Moscow, Vyazma, Omsk, Yaroslavl and Ryazan Oblasts, and Kazakhstan. The company’s product range includes road, construction and roofing bitumens, as well as polymer-modified bitumens and binders (specifically G-Way Styrelf), and a range of bitumen derivatives (mastic compounds, sealants and bitumen emulsions). All of the company’s products are certified as fully compliant with domestic and international standards.
Gazprom Neft uses a variety of transport solutions to ensure the supply of bitumen materials throughout Russia, the CIS, and abroad. The company’s facilities in Omsk, Yaroslavl and Ryazan are equipped with specialist packaging production lines allowing the transportation of bitumen products throughout the country’s most remote and inaccessible regions.
