ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 31. On March 31, 2025, the first piles were driven into the foundation of the future polyethylene plant "Silleno" within the Special Economic Zone "National Industrial Petrochemical Technopark" in the Atyrau region, Trend reports via KazMunayGas.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the large-scale construction was attended by Serik Shapkenov, Akim of Atyrau region, Askhat Khassenov, Chairman of the Board of JSC NC "KazMunayGas" (KMG), Kudaibergen Arymbek, Vice Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan, Pavel Lyakhovich, Executive Director of Sibur and member of the board, and Wang Tao, Senior Vice President of Sinopec.
The plant, with a capacity of 1.25 million tons of polyethylene per year and an investment volume exceeding $7 billion, is scheduled for completion in 2028 and will begin production in 2029. "Silleno" will become one of the large-scale projects in Kazakhstan's manufacturing industry.The plant will be able to produce over 20 grades of polyethylene used in key industries.
“The project will have a multiplicative positive effect on the national economy starting from the construction phase and will contribute to the growth of Kazakhstan's non-resource exports. The products of 'Silleno' will play an important role in replacing polyethylene imports, covering about 90 percent of the imported assortment. According to data from the National Statistics Bureau of Kazakhstan, the polyethylene market in Kazakhstan amounted to about 300,000 tons in 2024, and experts estimate it could grow to 400,000 tons by 2035. The main demand for polyethylene from Kazakh consumers will be met by supplies from 'Silleno,'" said the statement from KazMunayGas.
The launch of the plant will create about 8,000 jobs during construction and 800 jobs after the plant begins production.
“Ethane, which will be produced at the KMG Gas Separation Complex from gas extracted from the Tengizchevroil fields, will serve as the raw material for polyethylene production and will be delivered to 'Silleno' via a pipeline that will also be constructed by KMG. The future complex will include the construction of a pyrolysis unit to produce ethylene using technology from the American company Lummus, ethylene polymerization units using technology from Chevron Phillips Chemical (US), Univation Technologies (US), and a butene unit using Axens technology (France),” KazMunayGas added in the statement.
Initial preparatory work at the site began with the installation of the pyrolysis unit, with Tecnicas Reunidas (Spain) as the EPC contractor in consortium with Sinopec Engineering Incorporation (China).
The project is being implemented by Silleno, with shareholders JSC NC "KazMunayGas" (40 percent), Sinopec Overseas Investment Holding (30 percent), and PJSC "Sibur Holding" (30 percent). The plant will meet Kazakhstan's domestic demand for polyethylene and plans to supply products to the CIS countries, Europe, China, and Türkiye.
Polyethylene is a basic raw material used in the production of a wide range of products: pipes and valves for water and gas supply systems, sewage, ventilation, heating, electrical and thermal insulation materials, boat and all-terrain vehicle hulls, parts for technical equipment, household appliances, medical equipment, automotive components, toys, films of all types, packaging (bottles, boxes, cans, etc.), and other goods in demand both in everyday life and in industry.