sputniknews.ru: Director's comment on the new plant in Pskov: there is no threat to Estonian nature

Director's comment on the new plant in Pskov: there is no threat to Estonian nature.

Plans of Russians to build a new plant in Pskov region, not far from the Estonian border, caused concerns among neighbors. Sputnik Estonia reached director of the future enterprise for comments.

TALLINN, May 15 — Sputnik. Informing us at the beginning of the month about the plans of the Russian side to build a chemical plant in Pskov region, Estonian media wondered whether this would harm the environment, including Estonian nature.

Estonian Ministry of the Environment would like to receive official information from the Russian side on the construction of “Titan-Polymer” Chemical Plant 20 km away from the border. As is known Pskovians as well as residents of the region made a protest against this construction.

Sputnik Estonia inquired of the director of the enterprise German Petrushko if the new plant posed any potential risks to the environment.

"Are the environmental concerns reasonable? Let's have a look at this matter. Before me are maps of places where similar enterprises are located in Europe. Here is a factory in Slovakia producing yarns and granules. It is located 200-250 meters from residential areas. However, it shall be 500 meters according to the established standards that we must comply with. Such comparisons will be in our favor if we look at other similar industries in Europe," assured Mr. Petrushko.

Russian standards, he said, are much stricter than European ones and the verification system is more rigorous. Production does not imply any emissions into the atmosphere, and special purification and treatment facilities are provided for wastewater. In most cases, effluents are returned back to the process cycle. However, the excess amount of them, having passed the necessary treatment and appropriate control, goes to the municipal treatment system, therefore nothing is directly discharged into rivers or lakes.

Environmental impact assessment has not yet been conducted.

According to the director, the project documentation is in the stage of approval, an environmental impact assessment has not yet been completed, so the commissioning of the plant will take place only next year.

Products of “Titan-Polymer” plant in Pskov.

"Once the necessary permission is obtained," Petrushko says, "we’ll launch the first line for the production of biaxially oriented films. Then the second line will be put in operation, and after that we'll begin the production of PET granules. These materials are widely used in all areas of life".

BOPET films are designed for the manufacture of flexible packaging for the food industry, and are widely used in electrical engineering and medicine. PET granules can be processed to produce polyester fibers, woven and non-woven materials, etc.

"The products manufactured by the plant are in demand both in Russia and abroad," Petrushko said, "so we hope that it will find sales. The capacity of our enterprise is designed to produce 70,000 tons of films and 170,000 tons of granules per year".

Pskov region means proximity to raw materials and logistics flows.

"From the point of view of our production, the city and Pskov region are very favorably located," says director of the plant.

"Nearby is the Baltic Sea and ports, and since we are going to import part of the raw materials from abroad, the export of products to the European Union will be arranged accordingly via these ports. On the other hand, large processing centers — St. Petersburg and Moscow — are also very close".

In addition, he noted, the plant will be built in Moglino Special Economic Zone, which gives us the right to enjoy 'tax holidays' provided by the state.

The plant will become one of the major taxpayers in the region.

"Our company is registered in Pskov region," concludes Mr. Petrushko. "The estimated tax payment by the end of 2027 will be about 11 billion rubles. We can employ approximately 500 people, but the related enterprises, which are going to be our contractors, will additionally create about 2,000 new jobs".

“Titan-Polymer” plant in Pskov is a member of the Group of Companies “Titan” comprising about 20 enterprises in Omsk and Rostov regions, Moscow, St. Petersburg, and the Republic of Bashkortostan. The company has implemented over 10 investment projects in Russia and abroad.

The products manufactured by the enterprises of the Group of Companies “Titan” are exported to more than 40 countries, and have all necessary registration certificates confirming compliance with the requirements of the European regulations (REACH) pertaining to safe working practices and circulation of chemicals. Similar certificates from suppliers of raw materials are obligatory required.

Source: of 15.05.2019

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