Synprosyn
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Native name | Mikamintuj Nada |
|---|---|
| Direct distributist syndicate | |
| Industry | Plastics, petrochemical refining, industrial waste recycling |
| Founded | January 7, 1910 in Batana, Talahara |
| Founders |
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Area served | Global |
Key people |
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 Ⲇ39.49 billion (2023)($51.28 billion) | |
| Total assets | Ⲇ276.24 billion (2023) ($358.75 billion) |
| Members | 223,300 (2023) |
| Website | synprosyn.ta.com |
Synthetic Products Syndicate DDS (Takelat: ⵎⵉⴽⴰⵎⵉⵏⵜⵓⵊ ⵏⴰⴷⴰ ⵎⴱⵏ; Mikamintuj Nada MBN), commonly known as Synprosyn (Mimina) is a Talaharan chemical producer based in the capital of Maktarim and one of the "big three syndicates" of Talahara. Initially formed by a group of researchers from the National Petroleum Syndicate's research division, Synprosyn was established as a direct distributist syndicate as a result of market share negotiations in 1910, initially just manufacturing talarite, one of the world's first synthetic plastics, before branching out to a variety of synthetic chemical products.
In addition to being one of the single largest syndicates in Talahara based on its assets and revenues, it is one of the largest chemical producers in the world, having also expanded into several niche ancillary sectors including chemical and industrial waste recycling. Politically, Synprosyn wields significant influence as one of the core stakeholders in the Eco-Future Industrial Group, an industrial salon with six seats on the Supreme Legislative Council and one representative at the Executive Council.
History
Establishment
In the latter decades of the 19th century, Talahara's National Petroleum Syndicate (NPS) was rapidly expanding following the discovery of large oil reserves in the southwestern region of Amara. As many of the reserves were equally accessible from the Timna Strip region of Yisrael, Talaharan operations were hardpressed to exploit the reserves as quickly as possible. While this pressure would be alleviated by the 1919 annexation of the Timna Strip, Talaharan extraction rapidly accelerated for several decades. This policy quickly led to extraction greatly exceeding domestic demand and in addition to creating a reserve, the NPS expanded its efforts in researching uses for petrochemicals.
The NPS laboratories began producing medical products such as phenol and formaldehyde from petroleum hydrocarbons. By 1907, three of scientists, Tabat Sekerdid, Mastyes Jawara, and Yabdas Ortayas, were attempting to find ways to reinforce natural materials with synthetic resins produced with the same equipment that synthesized phenol and formaldehyde. The result of these experiments was ultimately the creation of "talarite", named after Talahara, a thermosetting synthetic polymer. The cured material was sensitive to moisture and brittle in cold temperatures, but it was resistant to high temperatures, did not conduct electricity, and in the hot and arid country, the product's flaws were of lesser consequence. Immediately following the report of the discovery, the broad applications of talarite were apparent.
The production of talarite by the NPS on a broader scale drew the ire of several other syndicates within the United Communes. Several industries that relied on imported natural resins such as shellac from Sante Reze for the production of adhesives, cosmetics, and gramophone records were concerned that the NPS was expanding beyond its mandate and could become too singularly dominant in Talahara's social market following its already meteoric rise in the petroleum industry. In late 1909, a market share risk case was filed in the Talaharan courts, which concluded in January 1910 with the severance of petrochemical refinement from NPS and the establishment of Synprosyn as a new syndicate.
Early history
Over the subsequent two decades, Synprosyn expanded from a satellite facility in Batana to its own facilities in Bu Akaš. By 1928, the syndicate had established commercial offices in Maktarim. Its membership also quickly expanded from 50 in 1915 to 6,000 in 1930.
The immense market demand for synthetic plastics was a major factor in the syndicate's rapid rise, however, the membership was able to sustain its growth by working closely with educational institutions in Talahara and abroad, openly recruiting technicians and researchers from foreign universities. While early 20th-century Talaharan firms had a reputation for sluggish personnel growth due to the insular structure of unions and communes, Synprosyn set later trends for recruitment and has been credited with contributing to the public acceptance of détente with liberal republics and monarchies in the 1960s.
Talarite, and later more refined plastics, continued to be the major production focus of the syndicate into the latter half of the 20th century. Synprosyn kept pace with other advances in synthetics at the time, including polyester, nylon, PTFE, and aramid fibres. In 1955, Synprosyn absorbed the declining Union of Biochemists, expanding to produce some biochemicals, alkaline products, and other mineral-derived products. The absorption pushed the syndicate's membership in excess of 50,000.
Mottled talarite radio
Dark talarite power cable
Dark talarite telephone
Brown talarite camera
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Later history
In the 1950s, Synprosyn's production of aramid fibres and chloroflurocarbon (CFC) products used in fire suppression systems, aerosol propellants, and refrigerants brought significant attention from the Rubric Coast's military industries. By the 1970s, CFCs represented a significant portion of Synprosyn's production. At the same time, Synprosyn was increasingly scrutinized by environmental groups due to the demonstrable ozone depletion effect of CFCs.
In 1974, Synprosyn branched into chemical recycling following breakthroughs in reverting certain polymer waste materials to monomer components, which could then be reconstituted into new polymers. In addition to increasing the efficiency of their own production, the syndicate was also able to open a new market in taking on waste from other global industries to recycle into new products. Synprosyn's own media division had been relatively anemic compared to other unions in Talahara, but saw heavy investment in this era as well to promote the benefits of its services.
Environmental groups continued to oppose a core of Synprosyn's products through the late 1980s. Facing mounting pressure, Synprosyn's internal governance was overturned in 1988 and the production of CFCs was phased out by 1990. In 1989, members of Synprosyn were key in founding the Eco-Future Industrial Group (EFIG) as a new political group in Talahara's executive and legislative elections. In 2006, the EFIG had its first delegate appointed to the Supreme Legislative Council and, in 2010, its first member was elected to the Executive Council. At present, Meɣiɣda Izlan, former general ombudsperson of Synprosyn, is the Executor of Water and Resources following her election in 2018 and reelection in 2022.
Finances
Synprosyn is renowned as one of the "big three syndicates" of the Talaharan economy with the National Petroleum Syndicate and United Steelworkers. Synprosyn's revenue accounts for approximately 3% of Talahara's annual gross domestic product alone, accounting for approximately Ⲇ39.49 billion ($51.28 billion) in 2023. For the past two decades, the syndicate's average year-over-year growth rate has been 11.9%. While this growth rate is amongst the highest in Talahara, its overall share in the Talaharan economy has slightly declined over the same period, likely due to emergent industries in the 21st century.
In terms of assets, Synprosyn reported a valuation of Ⲇ276.24 billion ($358.75 billion) in 2023 in held assets. The majority of these assets are physical facilities and goods, though a portion of reported assets are liquid reserves to offset incomplete insurance coverage.
Facilities
The first Synprosyn facility was established in the city of Batana in Talahara's southwest, but opened its own complex in Bu Akaš by 1912. Following the annexation of the Timna Strip in 1919 and the rapid expansion of the oil industry in the region, refinement and transportation facilities were transferred to Angaz in 1921. In 1931, commercial offices were opened in the nation's capital of Maktarim. The commercial offices became the official headquarters of the syndicate in 1935.
At present, Synprosyn maintains reagent refinement facilities in Angaz and Bu Akaš. End product factories are located in Bu Akaš and Kirthan. Maktarim remains the commercial headquarters. Chemical recycling facilities are located in Kirthan and New Rušadar.
Governance and management
As a direct distributist syndicate, Synprosyn's internal structure is governed by a constitution and subject to statutory requirements of the Talaharan commercial codes. The Synprosyn constitution was officially filed on January 7, 1910, and includes 161 articles setting out the structure of management, elections, terms of use of syndical assets, taxation, usufruct rights of members, provisions for disbursements and accommodations, and liabilities. Synprosyn's constitution was considered one of the leading documents of second generation Talaharan syndical developments and it was renowned in Talaharan commercial law for most of the 20th century. With the emergence of more common post-industrial and digital markets in the late-20th and early-21st centuries, Talaharan commercial law has recognized new types of commercial constitutions as belonging to a new third generation.
The syndicate's more than 223,000 members are organized across six major divisions, with each division maintaining between three and four departments with shops and teams forming the third and final tier. Shops and teams vary in size and composition between as many as 100 members and as few as 12. Managerial roles within the syndicate are elected for two-year terms at the shop/team level, three years at the department level, and four years at the division level.
A general convention for the syndicate is hosted annually, hosted on an alternating basis between the headquarters in Maktarim and one of the satellite facilities in Angaz, Bu Akaš, Kirthan, and New Rušadar. General conventions are generally attended by the forepersons for each shop/team, the elected ombudspersons of each department, and the chairpersons of each division. In addition to putting major commercial decisions (as defined in the Synprosyn constitution) to a plebiscite, the general convention also sees the annual election of the executive positions of general chairperson, general ombudsperson, and general foreperson. These three roles form the executive committee of the syndicate which is empowered to make decisions of general conduct and everyday business for the syndicate.
Media and politics
Synprosyn operates a daily media publication service called "Synth Future" (ⵎⵉⵏ ⴳⵓⴷⴰⵎ; Min Gudam), founded in 1922 as an expansion of the syndicate's monthly reports and media briefs to a weekly publication including market information, general news, human interest stories, and sports reporting relevant to the home communities of Synprosyn facilities. In 1960, Synth Future relocated to the Synprosyn headquarters in Maktarim and became a daily news publication. In 2014, the publication phased out physical media for a fully-online service. The publication reports approximately 3.4 million monthly visitors to its digital domains, representing a 30% per capita decrease from the outlet's peak readership in the 1980s.
The Eco-Future Industrial Group (EFIG) was formed in 1989 in large part with support from Synprosyn leadership. As an industrial salon, the EFIG is based on industrial political organization and has a mandate derived primarily from its syndical stakeholders for internal structure. Despite this, the EFIG is broadly considered to have the most civic support of all extant industrial salons in Talahara. In terms of policy, the EFIG advances measures for environmental protection through market solutions and broader governmental support for developing green technologies. The EFIG also promotes economic protectionism.
Controversies
Environment
Prior to the 1990s, Synprosyn officially adopted an anti-environmental stance. The most famous example was the syndicate's approach to the chlorofluorocarbon production in the face of increasing concerns over the products' effects on the upper atmosphere through the 1970s. Even prior to this development, the collateral impacts of pesticides and herbicides on the environment came under serious scrutiny by local governments along the Rubric Coast.
Following the 1988 general convention, Synprosyn's official approach to the environment pivoted completely. However, the syndicate's rhetorical advancement of environmental concerns has been criticized as "greenwashing", with other environmentalist groups noting that, despite the promotion of recycling and research into green technologies, Synprosyn remains one of the largest carbon emitters in Talahara and still relies on petroleum extraction for a key sector of its market share.
Public health
In addition to concerns over the environment, Synprosyn has been subject to investigations and legal proceedings on multiple occasions as a result of public health concerns.
The first case against Synprosyn came in 1944 where Batana facility supervisors were suspended following a chemical leak which poisoned as many as 42 family dwellings. The leak was found to have materially contributed to thirteen fatalities: the highest death toll for any above-ground industrial disaster in modern Talaharan history. While partially covered by insurance, the 1944 incident put the entire syndicate in a dire financial situation in 1945.
In 1969, the West Rubricine Agricultural Workers Union sued Synprosyn in a product liability and public health case following a number of poisoning cases related to industrial pesticide use. Further, in 1992, the syndicate was subject to a public criminal investigation regarding concerns about incidental consumption of PTFE materials from cookware. In both cases, Synprosyn was ultimately ordered to pay damages.
Military industry
Synprosyn gained significant notoriety in the 1970s for its manufacture of incendiary weapons. While ostensibly public information, widespread knowledge of the extensive employment of incendiary weapons came to light following reporting of Talaharan involvement in the Third Uhlangan Civil War, during which Talaharan air support engaged in widespread incendiary bombing. These included both traditional thermite munitions and the controversial use of petrogel munitions, both of which were manufactured by Synprosyn. The anti-personnel use of incendiary weapons and frequently reported collateral damage led to public outrage in Talahara and abroad, with some critics maintaining that Synprosyn was complicit in the commission of war crimes over the course of the civil war.