OREANDA-NEWS. ZАО “TMK-CPW”, a joint venture between Seversky Tube Works (STW), a subsidiary of the leading Russian steel pipe manufacturer, TMK, and “Humbel limited” of Cyprus, a subsidiary of the Greek pipe industry leader Corinth Pipeworks S.A. (CPW), announced today that it has delivered its first shipment of a new pipe range to the Rosneft Oil Company, the first to order this new product from the “TMK-CPW” JV.

Rosneft received about 2 thousand tonnes of 15 meter electric resistance welded (ERW) longitudinal pipes with 325mm diameter and 10mm wall thickness made of low-alloyed steel.

TMK’s logistics team also successfully resolved the transportation issues associated with the length of the product. This new pipe range can have up to 18m in length, as opposed to the standard 12m, making them difficult to transport.

The “TMK-CPW” JV was launched at the Seversky Tube Works in July 2007 and produces ERW longitudinal pipes for oil and gas companies in Russia and the CIS. It also produces other tubular goods used in the rapidly developing construction industry. The JV annual production capacity amounts to approximately 200 thousand tonnes of tubular goods.

“This first TMK-CPW shipment allows us to enter a new market segment. It is the first time the company has produced ERW longitudinal pipes intended first and foremost for the oil and gas industry. We forecast further growth in sales of this type of product and we see good prospects for strengthening TMK’s market position. The JV’s production will also increase the company’s share of premium products,” said TMK’s CEO, Konstantin Semerikov.