YELABUGA, May 14. /ITAR-TASS/. German producer RMA Pipeline Equipment has launched its largest plant in the Alabuga special economic zone in Russia’s Volga River republic of Tatarstan. Declared investments in the Alabuga production project of ball valves for needs of oil and gas industry have made 1.7 billion rubles (around $48.7 million). The plant’s annual capacity will make 11 thousand ball valves.

Russian gas giant Gazprom is RMA largest partner in the country.

The project will be implemented in several stages. At first stage RMA Pipeline will invest 1,118 billion rubles (around $32 million) in the production of 500mm ball valves which will start in 2014. The other part of declared investments will be used for manufacturing 700 and 1,400mm products which will be turned out starting from 2016 and 2021, respectively.

RMA Pipeline Equipment is a producer and supplier of structures and high-quality pipeline equipment as well as controlling and measurement technologies and special components for gas, water and heating supplies.

The main partners and contractors of the company are largest petrochemical and gas projects of such giants as BASF, Chevron and Eni. The company is also involved in gas project Nord Stream.

The company’s annual sales make 150 million euro in Europe and 50 million euro in Russia. The number of its employees totals 500.

According to forecasts of RMA Rus, a RMA subsidiary in Russia, the annual output will permit to the enterprise to provide for a 50% market share within next ten years.