OREANDA-NEWS. January 28, 2011. TNK-BP made a decision to invest USD 1.7 mln in further development and expansion of production of its polymer-modified binder, TNK Alfabit, reported the press-centre of TNK-BP.

The funds will be used to purchase and install additional equipment to be supplied by Benninghoven Russland and Petrotest. The new equipment is planned to be commissioned in March 2011.

As a result of the upgrade, TNK Alfabit production volume will increase twofold reaching 72,000 tonnes per year, which will permit TNK-BP to fully cover the supply of TNK Alfabit in the framework of its cooperation with Russian Highways. The Partnership Agreement between the two companies was signed in November 2010.

Besides, investments in production development presuppose site automation. This will provide an opportunity to make product quality even more consistent and mitigate operational risks.

“2011 promises to be very important for us, says Eldar Verdiev, Leader, Performance Unit (PU) Bitumen, TNK-BP. – TNK Alfabit production is growing at a fast pace, and we are optimistic about the future. According to our forecasts, the domestic demand for such products will increase at least twofold in the short run. Besides, we are very happy to note the interest that the Russian authorities and road construction organizations take in advanced innovative solutions such as TNK Alfabit. Our agreement with Russian Highways is a perfect testament to that”.

TNK Alfabit brand currently covers a whole series of chemically interrelated PBB (polymer bitumen binders). This product group is based on the globally proven BP Olexobit technology. TNK Alfabit formulation was specially developed for our country considering specificities of our climate zones.

TNK Alfabit allows increasing the guaranteed service life of a road from two-three to seven-ten years without interim repairs compared with ordinary bitumens on condition that the laying procedure is observed. PBB makes the asphalt more elastic thus avoiding cracks in winter and ruts in summer.

The key customers for TNK-BP bitumen products are road construction companies and the capital construction sector. Bitumens are supplied via a network of official distributors to more than thirty Russian regions.