LUKOIL is conducting energetic repair and maintenance operations to
cure the effects of the fire outbreak which took place in mid-December of 2011
at the ethylene production unit of the Stavrolen petrochemical
complex.
It was expected that the ethylene production unit could resume
its operations by April 1, 2012 at the latest, provided that the required
equipment was manufactured and delivered in due time.
However, in view of the fact that part of the damaged equipment
can be manufactured only abroad due to its unique nature and technical
complexity, the repair and maintenance operations schedule has been
extended.
The imported equipment is expected to be delivered in July of
2012. The equipment manufactured within Russia will be delivered to the complex
from April to May of 2012. It is expected to take about two weeks to install,
test and start the long-lead equipment.
Meanwhile, on March 11, 2012, the complex resumed polypropylene
production at the polypropylene unit which processes the propylene manufactured
by the Karpatneftekhim (LUKOIL subsidiary) and a number of other Russian
companies.