In Kstovo, the construction of a facility for the production of high-octane gasoline has begun.

      On May 13, 2026, at 19:09, Economy Today, on May 13, the construction of a methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) production unit—a high-octane component of automotive gasoline—officially began at the LUKOIL oil refinery in Kstovo. The ceremony was attended by the authorized representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Volga Federal District, Igor Komarov, the governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, Gleb Nikitin, and the company's management. Igor Komarov noted that over the decades of its operation, LUKOIL has implemented numerous large investment projects and made a significant contribution to the development of regions and the economy of the country.

      "Petrochemistry is one of the main economic specializations of the Volga Federal District. The entire cycle is located here: from extraction to processing of raw materials. I am confident that the construction and commissioning of the high-octane component production unit will improve the quality of the products produced and the efficiency of the industry," said the representative.

      The design capacity of the new unit will exceed 200,000 tons of MTBE per year. The use of this component allows for increased detonation resistance of fuel, improved economic and environmental characteristics of engines, as well as reduced harmful emissions.

      Gleb Nikitin congratulated the employees and management of the company on LUKOIL's 35th anniversary, emphasizing that the company has become one of the locomotives of the Russian economy. According to the governor, the implementation of new investment projects contributes to increasing the efficiency and environmental friendliness of production. The launch of the new unit will address concerns about the environmental situation and air quality, as the new generation high-octane fuel has more environmentally friendly characteristics. Additionally, the head of the Nizhny Novgorod region reminded about the company's ecological initiative to plant 35,000 trees across the country in honor of LUKOIL's anniversary.

      On the same day, the Additive Technologies Center and the Pilot Testing Center were opened on the plant's territory. The Additive Technologies Center will provide a full cycle of spare parts production—from 3D modeling to finishing processing of products. The Pilot Testing Center will serve as a platform for testing catalysts and various petroleum products on pilot installations, including hydrocracking, catalytic cracking, reforming, and isomerization of gasoline fractions. After the opening of the facilities, 21 employees of LUKOIL enterprises in the Nizhny Novgorod region were awarded state, departmental, and corporate awards. Igor Komarov, presenting the awards, recalled the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin that sustainable development of an enterprise is impossible without caring for employees, developing professional competencies, and ensuring decent working conditions. Gleb Nikitin, in turn, emphasized that the main asset of LUKOIL has always been and remains its people.

      "The company has a professional and cohesive team. Thanks to your work, the company not only provides the country with quality fuel and modern petroleum products but also actively invests in the development of regions, creates new jobs, and supports social and educational initiatives," said the regional head. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and operational information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.