October 07, 2008

TMK’s Volzhsky new coating plant to start in Q1 of 2008

TMK announced that the new LD smooth internal pipe coating equipment is undergoing testing at its Volzhsky Pipe Plant subsidiary. Commercial production and first shipments should begin in the fist quarter of 2008. The installation of the Bauhuis pipe coating line falls under TMK’s Strategic Investment Program, running up to 2010.

With an annual capacity of 600,000 tonne per annum, this new Bauhuis pipe coating equipment is especially designed for pipes with diameters ranging from 530 mm to 1420mm and wall thickness of up to 42mm.

While at first coating currently stocked pipes, this capacity will later be integrated in a new 508mm to 1420mm longitudinal welded pipe mill with finishing and exterior coating lines. The completion of this new 650,000 tonne per annum mill is planned for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Mr Konstantin Semerikov CEO of TMK said that “This latest range of high quality TMK tubular goods is primarily designed for the construction of state of the art pipelines. The use of the very latest protective coating technology and equipment will enable us to cater to present and future customer demands, particularly from oil and gas companies looking to lower energy costs by improving their pipeline flow dynamics.”

These new TMK pipes with internal smooth coating were developed in cooperation with Gazprom and are a result of the two companies’ joint R&D program. The pipes are currently undergoing the necessary technical and field testing and will later be certified by Gazprom.