Press centre

On the sidelines of the 11th Eastern Economic Forum, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially launched the commissioning phase of the Nakhodka Mineral Fertilizer Plant (NFP).

NFP is a state-of-the-art methanol production facility built by the Russian holding company JSC Ruschem in the city of Nakhodka, Primorsky Krai. Construction and installation work have now been completed, and the plant is scheduled to deliver its first batch of products in spring 2027. The project was financed under VEB.RF’s Project Finance Factory program, in a 50/50 partnership with VTB.

“In three years – with the last two pursued at an accelerated pace – we have built Russia’s largest high-tech, environmentally friendly methanol production complex, investing 220 billion rubles. Tax contributions from the plant will increase the Primorsky Krai budget by 25%. NFP is a powerful driver for the economic development of the Far East and a foundation for new investment projects,” said Igor Rotenberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of JSC Ruschem.

Ahead of the official ceremony, key construction partners – Igor Shuvalov, Chairman of VEB.RF, and Andrey Kostin, President and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB Bank – assessed the plant’s readiness.

“Participating in large-scale investment projects is one of the priorities of VEB.RF’s strategy through 2030. The Nakhodka Mineral Fertilizer Plant is a significant project for Primorsky Krai, laying the groundwork for modern industrial development in the Far East. Its implementation will bring new jobs and tax revenues to the region and stimulate infrastructure growth and related industries. For VEB.RF, it is important to support projects that, beyond their economic impact, create long-term opportunities for urban development and improved quality of life,” said Igor Shuvalov.

Andrey Kostin emphasized that financing a project of this scale is a strategically important task for the growth of the chemical industry.

“VTB supports major infrastructure projects across Russia, with the bank involved in building roads, power stations, hospitals, student campuses, and industrial facilities. The Nakhodka plant is one of the largest investment projects in the Far East, and VTB is proud to be its financial partner. It is also important that the future facility is being built to high environmental standards, with care for the region’s nature, and that its technological solutions completely eliminate any discharge of industrial wastewater into the waters of adjacent bays,” said Andrey Kostin, President and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB.

According to Eduard Davydov, CEO of JSC Ruschem, the plant will produce 5,400 tons of methanol per day, equivalent to 1.8 million tons annually.

“Our goal is to build new, successful production facilities on a strong **raw-material** base. We have already signed long-term supply contracts with countries in Southeast Asia. During the commissioning phase, we will test all production systems and equipment and produce a trial batch of methanol. The first commercial output is scheduled for spring 2027,” emphasized Eduard Davydov.

More than 900 units of modern, high-tech equipment have been installed at the site, and cutting-edge technologies were employed throughout construction. The plant was designed in full compliance with environmental regulations. The Bolshoy Kamen–Vrangel gas pipeline, built specifically for NFP, will also enable gasification of the Nakhodka urban district – the third-largest city in Primorsky Krai.