“Russian steel” asks not to limit the export of coal benzene

The Russian Steel Association of Ferrous Metallurgy Enterprises asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade not to limit the export of coal benzene from the Russian Federation. A copy of the letter sent, including Deputy Minister Roman Chekushov, is at Kommersant. “Kommersant” sent questions to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The appeal is directed in connection with the discussion of the introduction of a ban on the export of certain types of goods of the petrochemical industry in order to meet the increased need of consumers in benzene, the letter says. As Russian Steel explains, raw benzene is a by-product of coke production at coke-chemical plants. It then synthesizes the pure benzene used by other industries. Historically, the volume of production of coal-fired raw benzene in Russia exceeded domestic demand, and exports allowed to solve the problems of CCP for the sale of this product, the letter says.

The accumulation of benzene is impossible: metallurgical enterprises provide for the storage of benzene for an average period of no more than a week due to increased explosiveness. For the same reason, it is unacceptable to increase the temporary disruption of benzene supplies to consumers. It is also unacceptable to overstock high terrorist risks, including UAV attacks, in the current conditions. The appeal notes that Russian Steel, together with the companies, is working on a possible reorientation of part of export supplies for additional loading of Evraza CCP, which has facilities for processing raw benzene into purified.

The fact that the government Commission on economic development and integration is discussing the possibility of a ban on the export of aromatic hydrocarbons, including benzene, previously told Kommersant sources. According to Kommersant interlocutors, these compounds are increasingly used as a component in the production of gasoline, which created a shortage of raw materials for petrochemicals and caused an increase in prices.

In the material “Kommersant” “Benzene is taken into the ring”.