Rhodia and Sibur form joint venture

Rhodia, a member of the Solvay group, and SIBUR have taken significant further steps in their project to create a joint venture in specialty surfactants. The aim of this strategic partnership is to create a surfactant specialty leader in the CIS market focused on the home & personal care and oil & gas markets, two sectors growing at more than 6% per year. The two partners have completed studies to set up local production of surfactants in Russia at Dzerzhinsk, at SIBUR’s petrochemicals site which is 400 km east of Moscow. In the oil & gas market, a series of successful trials of Rhodia’s high performance solutions have been carried out with several companies to adapt formulations to the specific conditions required for the local market. Rhodia, as a worldwide leader in specialty surfactants, is providing the partnership with its expertise in surfactant technologies, its knowledge of formulations and market applications and its customer network, including global key accounts with a strong presence in this region. SIBUR, the leading petrochemical company in Russia, is bringing its experience and knowledge of the CIS region to support the development of the surfactants business, and will also be contributing its raw materials, production and logistics capabilities. (April 19, 2012)