Russian petrochemicals giant Sibur (Moscow; www.sibur.com) has signed an agreement with logistics group Karl Schmidt Spedition (Heilbronn / Germany; www.schmidt-heilbronn.com) to develop a new chemical cluster for processing plastics within the Kaluga Industrial Zone, southwest of Moscow.

The agreement is a continuation of a previous memorandum between the two companies that already have a well-established partnership at various production sites in Russia. Schmidt will build the hub at the Freight Village Vorsino with the aim, among other goals, to distribute the output from Sibur’s ZapSibNeftekhim site in Tobolsk, where plants producing 2m t/y of PP and PE are currently under construction – see Plasteurope.com of 17.05.2016.

Under terms of the deal, Schmidt will provide all services necessary for receiving, packaging, storing and shipping the polymers to Sibur’s Russian partners and those overseas for a period of 20 years. Products will be transported in bulk containers via block trains, which Schmidt said will substantially increase efficiency compared to the traditional method of using pallets.

The hub’s annual capacity will be about 670,000 t. A container terminal with a capacity of 1,300 40-foot (12.2-m) containers and a refurbished warehouse will be able to accommodate more than 40,000 t of polymer products at any given time. The German group’s total investment in the project will be more than RUB 2 bn (EUR 28m).

Schmidt will also be able to use the hub as a distribution centre for other customers in Russia and western Europe. A completion date for the new facility was not disclosed.