OREANDA-NEWS. Gazprom Neft, the Federal Road Agency (Rosavtodor), and gas processing and petrochemicals company SIBUR have signed a cooperation agreement on regulation governing the use of modern polymer materials in road construction.

The agreement was signed by Alexander Dyukov (Gazprom Neft Chairman of the Management Board), Roman Starovoyt (head of Rosavtodor), and Kirill Shamalov (Deputy CEO, SIBUR).

All parties confirmed their commitment to cooperating more closely on the adoption of regulation governing the application and usage of modern polymer materials in road surfacing.

The companies will be joining forces in establishing and developing a long-term forecast on the use of polymer materials in road construction, an industry-wide system for quality control over polymer materials (involving producers' own laboratories), and a system for testing and monitoring the use of polymer materials in road construction.

Rosavtodor and SIBUR also plan to work together in coordinating research and development activities, and in developing vocational training programmes, cross-training and continued professional development, training and qualification requirements, and standards and proficiency testing programmes for employees of construction and project management organisations.

Alexander Dyukov commented: “Gazprom Neft's strategy is predicated on our achieving technological leadership of the Russian bitumens market. To that end we are constantly implementing innovative production technologies, and improving the managerial effectiveness of the company's bitumen business, as well as joining forces with all major market players to consolidate and improve regulation underpinning the industry. The harmonisation of standards regulating road construction is a powerful stimulus for the development of the entire industry and for the introduction of cutting-edge materials for the construction of high-quality, durable roads.”

Roman Starovoyt added: “Initiatives to increase the pool of laboratories taking part in the quality control of petrochemical by-products have already been undertaken. In order to rapidly increase the number of laboratories we engage with and utilise producers' own facilities to conduct anonymous data-collection activities. This is directly relevant to the Federal Roads Agency, given the wide range of activities and the geographic scope of our work”.

Kirill Shamalov remarked: “Bringing together the abilities and resources of both regulators and the business community will, I am sure, allow us to significantly improve the situation in overcoming regulatory and technical barriers to the wider usage of polymer materials in the sector, and will facilitate better quality control and greater effectiveness in their application.”

The agreement will remain in force until the end of 2016, and may be extended, subject to the agreement of all parties.