MOGILEV, Belarus—Russia's Omsk Carbon Group is planning to start the first phase of its carbon black production plant in Mogilev in September.
The company said July 15 that the $111 million plant, which has been roughly two years behind schedule, would launch its first production line this autumn, after a short trial period. The plant eventually will ramp up to its maximum capacity of 200,000 metric tons per year, but no time frame has been given.
"Until recently, we encountered some construction-specific difficulties in implementing this large-scale project," General Director Leonid Laskovets said in a statement.
However, he noted, with the support of Belarusian authorities, the plant is ready to be launched.
Omsk Carbon previously had told European Rubber Journal that the delay in the project was in order to secure better technology for its third production site.
OCG expects to deliver half of its products to Belarusian car tire manufacturer Belshina JSC, and export the remainder to Poland, Sweden, Germany, Romania and Finland.