Gazprom Neft acquired Rospolychem Group, a Russian manufacturer of specialty oils such as aviation lubricants and rolling oils whose customers include the countrys military. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Gazpromneft Lubricants, a subsidiary of the Russian oil major, will now operate Nizhny Novgorod-based Rospolychem, which is a group of companies that produce lubricants such as engine oils, transmission oils and hydraulic fluids along with specialty chemicals such as extender oils, additives and plasticizers.
We are delighted to inform you that the company expanded its line of products used in such applications as the production of large-diameter oil and gas pipelines, metalworking fluids and plasticizers used in the chemical industry, Gazpromneft Lubricants said in a July 13 press release. [With this acquisition], the company is also set to enter a new market niche – production of plasticizers used in PVC [polyvinyl chloride] products. The oil major plans to use its in-house base oils in the formulations of Rospolychems products.
Rospolychems facility has capacity to produce 5,000 metric tons per year of engine oils, hydraulic oils and gear oils for the aviation industry; refrigerator lubricants; compressor oils; cutting and coolant fluids; rust-preventing greases; hydraulic fluids for general industrial uses, and more. The Russian military is one of its largest customers.
Expanded lubricant product assortment is an important step in the companys development strategy, said Anatoly Cherner, Gazprom Nefts deputy general director for logistics, processing and sales. Our aim is to continue to implement new technologies and supply the Russian market with high-quality products.
In 2015, Gazprom Neft produced 528,000 tons of base oils and lubricants and held 15 percent of the domestic market. Gazpromneft Lubricants is very active in international markets with sales in 60 countries. Gazprom Neft operates two API Group I base oil plants, located in Omsk Oblast and Yaroslavl Oblast, the latter being a 50-50 joint venture with Rosneft. The companys lube subsidiary runs five blending plants – three in Russia and the others in Serbia and Italy.