Gazprom Neft Developing High-Tech Bitumen Production Technologies

Gazpromneft Bitumen Materials, operator of the Gazprom Neft bitumens business, has signed a Cooperation Agreement with the Transport and Construction Complex Research Institute (an independent non-commercial organisation) on developing effective formulations for high-tech bitumen binders, and using these in roadbuilding, under an agreement signed by Dmitry Orlov, General Director, Gazpromneft Bitumen Materials, and Evgeny Simchuk, General Director of the Transport and Construction Complex Research Institute.

The parties have agreed to develop a roadmap directed at improving efficiency in using bitumen materials in building and operating transport infrastructure facilities.

This partnership is expected to involve a series of R&D and pilot operations at the Gazprom Neft Science and Technology Centre in Ryazan, as well as at the Institute’s own research centre. Based on this work, current technical standards and methodologies for testing bitumen materials will be updated, in line with the needs of Russia’s roadbuilding industry.

The agreement also envisages the parties collaborating in developing new innovative formulations for bitumens and asphalt mixes, using cutting-edge technological solutions in line with current regulatory, environmental and safety standards. In order to monitor effectiveness in using bitumen materials a progressive oversight system will be put forward for monitoring the operating conditions and status of highways and motorway test-sections.

“Our specialists joining forces means we will be able to integrate industry-wide scientific knowledge into the process of developing premium bitumen products. Our collaboration, which includes initiatives planned to train specialists at both our Science and Technology Centre and the Transport and Construction Complex Research Institute, will promote the development of bitumen-production technologies, extending the service life of road coverings.”

“Both our research institute, and Gazpromneft-Bitumen Materials, are now focussed on improving quality standards in both works undertaken, and products manufactured, consistently improving our competencies and skills and undertaking major investigations into both roadbuilding materials and the techniques for using these. I have every confidence that our joining forces will give further impetus to effective technological development in roadbuilding.”