Russian metallurgy and chemicals still 98% dependent on foreign software

3 October 2024, 06:31 PM
Author: Demian Shevko

Russian metallurgical, chemical, and fuel and energy companies are still 98% dependent on foreign software, The Moscow Times reported on Oct. 3. 

Companies in these sectors continue to use foreign software in 98% of their projects. Around 80% use IT solutions from Germany's Siemens, while another 18% rely on other foreign products. This software is primarily used in automated process control systems (APCS), which include both software and hardware components.

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Following the exit of companies like Siemens, France's Schneider Electric, Japan's Yokogawa, and U.S. firms Honeywell and Emerson, the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade formed a working group to develop domestic alternatives.

The development was assigned to companies including Severstal, Gazprom Neft, Transneft, EuroChem, Rosatom, and R&D association KIS, among others.

According to the ministry's plan, by the end of 2024, companies were expected to start testing prototypes of open APCS components for local control systems. However, a survey by Severstal showed that only 10% of companies have decided on an import substitution strategy for APCS, while around 60% are still exploring options.

One-third of the enterprises have chosen vendors but foresee various risks in implementing their projects.

In the power sector (generation and grids), foreign solutions accounted for 30-50% of use, and in oil transportation, no more than 30%. However, in the chemical, oil refining, and pulp and paper industries, dependency ranged from 80% to 97%, in metallurgy 90%, and in other sectors from 70% to 95%.

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