Decision to start construction of NKHK. The USSR Council of People’s Commissars made a decision to start construction of Novo-Kemerovsky Chemical Works under the Order No. 676 dated April 5.

Decision to start construction of NKHK

In October, the Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 3533 is issued: design specification for construction of Novo-Kemerovsky Chemical Works (NKHK). In accordance with the design specification, NKHK should start producing ammonia, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, urea, and caprolactam from benzene. NKHK should supply mineral fertilizers to Siberia, Far East and partially Central Asia.

1947

Chemical works construction project specification

In February, under the guidance of NKHK’s Chief Mechanical Engineer Viktor Frolov, Mechanical Repair Plant is created on the basis of construction site, the future Mechanical Repair Shop (Engineering Design Center of Azot KAO). The NKHK’s primary objectives included: repair and upgrade of equipment (most of machinery and mechanical equipment were supplied to the NKHK site under reparation program or as separate parts and assemblies with no instructions), preservation and storage of equipment before installation and start-up.

1949

Mechanical Repair Plant is created

In 1950, the technical library, that was just opened at the NKHK, sends an order to Moscow for delivery of health and safety (industrial sanitary) graphic agitation posters. The established Health and Safety Department conducts supplementary health and safety briefings. In the last three months of 1950, 312 workers were instructed.

1950

Scientific and technical library is established

The NKHK’s first product was asymmetrical dimethylamine—a basic component of rocket oxidizer hydrazine (heptyl).

1956

First batch is produced—amines

Instrumentation Shop was established on December 30, 1956, on the basis of Instrumentation Team of the plant No. 638. N. P. Orekhov is appointed as the first Director. He immediately approved the Construction Schedule for the Instrumentation Shop that was put into operation in 1959.

The first chemical plant No. 6-38 released a target product—amines—on November 5, 1956, at 4:00 a.m. The first product release date has become a holiday in the history of Kemerovo Azot and is celebrated as Enterprise Day.

From 1958 to 1960 the following NKHK plants are put online:

Nitric Acid Plant (plant No. 5),
Ammonium Nitrate Plant (plant No. 3),
Ammonia Plant,
Methanol Plant.

1958

New production plants are launched

The first NKHK’s ammonia was produced from coke that was delivered from the Kemerovsky Coking Plant. Cost of this ammonia was 2.5 times higher than the average ammonia cost at the nearby Compound Nitrogen Fertilizer Plant (currently Khimprom), which will later predetermine switching of Azot to natural gas as primary raw material.

From 1960 to 1963, Grigory Abramovich Sister (future GIAP Director) was appointed as NKHK Director, who was later in 1963 substituted with Chief Engineer Nikolay Mikhaylovich Vdovin for three years.

1960

The first issue of the Za Bolshuyu Khimiyu newspaper

Office of the large-circulation NKHK’s newspaper Za Bolshuyu Khimiyu starts working—the first issue is released in January.

The first issue of the Za Bolshuyu Khimiyu newspaper

G. Sister

N. Vdovin

The first Caprolactam Plant is constructed that had some deviations from the project specification. The raw material for the plant was aniline instead of benzene. The short production process for valuable caprolactam that can be used for synthetic threads was started on June 2, 1962. A patent for production of caprolactam from aniline was purchased from Zimmer, Germany.

1962

Caprolactam Plant is launched

Crystalline Urea Plant is constructed. However, the Urea Plant was shut down in 1975, since ammonia output was calculated incorrectly and raw material was insufficient for production of both saltpeter and urea.

1964

Construction of Urea Plant

Diaphen is produced.

The Caprolactam Plant 2 is constructed. This time, a benzene (simplest hydrocarbon ether produced from coal or oil) based process was selected.

1968

Construction of Caprolactam Plant 2

The first sulfenamide batch is produced.

1969

Sulfenamide is produced

Azot 2 substation was put into operation.

1971

Pilot Plant is established

The first issue of the Khimik radio newspaper got on the air. For over 30 years, broadcasting had been prepared by Radio Editor Ya. I. Gurskaya. V. O. Chusovikina was honored by ministry certificate for many years of work at Azot Media Editors Office.

Establishment of the plant was dictated by the necessity to arrange production of phosphated cation exchanger KFP-12 based on absolutely different process. In connection with start-up of and familiarization with Diaphen FP process purchased in Japan, pilot units were created the same year at the plant for stage-by-stage optimization of the Diaphen FP process and production of pilot batches.

First tons of commercial products were produced by Ammonium Sulfate Plant 3.

Construction of 50 KTPA Caprolactam Plant 3, where Dutch specialists were involved, is completed. Biological treatment plants are put into service (NOPSV-3—neutralization and treatment of industrial waste water) at the Caprolactam Plant 3.

1972

Construction of Caprolactam 3 is completed

First batches of the Belizna bleacher—household chemical product—are produced by the Chemicals Plant.

1974

First batches of the Belizna bleacher

KPO Azot Young Specialist Council is formed and first scientific research conference for young specialists is conducted. The same year, Shift Foreman and Supervisor Council is formed.

In January, plant No. 4 managed to produce pure nitric acid.

1975

Pure nitric acid is produced

In September, in order to unify USSR nitric industry, the Novo-Kemerovsky Chemical Works are renamed to Azot Industrial Association.

Under the Enterprise Order No. 461 K, Ammonia Plant 1 was created on February 20.

1976

Ammonia Plant 1 is built

Number of Azot’s personnel reaches 10,572.

Natural gas from Samotlor is delivered on May 17.

Air compressor is started up on September 14. Natural gas flare is ignited.

Training center (Staff Training Center) starts functioning. Based on the decision of the panel of USSR Chemical Industry Ministry, the enterprise is awarded a title Strong Production Culture Enterprise.

Interview with Nikolay Mikhaylovich Vdovin, PO Azot Chief Engineer (1963–1966), Ph.D. in Technical Sciences, Honored Worker of RSFSR chemical industry, Hero of Socialist Labor, Honorary Freedom of Kemerovo.

1977

Interview with Chief Engineer N. M. Vdovin

Construction works aimed to increase capacity of the Capralactam Plant 3 by 10 KTPA are completed. Thus, annual production output increases to 60 KTPA.

Plant No. 31 had been solving the issue of supplying treated water to the enterprise plants through production of chemically treated and deaerated water.

1978

Plant No. 31 is launched

In February, new Hydroxylamine Sulfate (HAS) Plant starts production based on direct synthesis process.

In March, 1st level (water intake) pump station is put into service at Tom River.

In May, natural gas is delivered to the complex of large capacity ammonia unit under construction.

In June, Azot 3 substation is put into operation.

On March 30, the first large capacity ammonia unit beyond Urals—Ammonia 1—that can produce 1,360 TPD ammonia from natural gas is put into operation. This event was celebrated by the entire Kuzbass. The new plant has outperformed the old plant 2 times in terms of ammonia supplied to plant’s network.

1979

First ammonia batch from Ammonia Unit 1

1980

Large capacity ammonium nitrate unit is put into operation

First large capacity Ammonium Nitrate Unit is put into operation in the plant No. 13.

Weak Nitric Acid Plant No. 15 is launched.

Production of process aqueous ammonia is started at the plant No. 9.

Retrofitting of Sulfuric Acid Plant is completed. The first products are produced by the new production facilities. New 25 KTPA production facilities are put online at the Caprolactam Plants 1 and 2.

1981

Retrofitting of Sulfuric Acid Plant is completed

On September 5, first granular urea is produced by the large capacity unit constructed in accordance with the cutting-edge Italian design.

1982

First granular urea is produced

Centralized repair workshop No. 1 (CCR-1) is created.

The large capacity Ammonia Unit 2 and the second Nitric Acid Unit is put into operation. Ammonia Unit 2 has reached 80 percent of design capacity by the end of the third quarter, while 55 percent was scheduled by Soyuzazot Association.

1984

Large capacity Ammonia Unit 2 is put in operation

Large capacity Ammonia Unit 3 is put in operation. Tail gas incineration unit is started at the plant No. 7. Azot KPO Consumer Services Centre that includes stores, catering service, tailor shop, barbershop, and shoe-repair shop is opened.

1987

Large capacity Ammonia Unit 3 is put in operation

Concentrated ammonium nitrate solution section is put in operation in the building No. 751.

1989

Concentrated ammonium nitrate solution is produced

New Belizna bleach filling line is launched at the Chemicals Plant.

The first product batch is produced by the polymer container plant.

Foreign Economic Relations Department of the enterprise is formed.

1991

Foreign Economic Relations Department is formed

Granular urea packing unit is put in operation at the Urea Plant.