Topic Of The Week
ON THE WAY TO STABILIZATION?
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, on November 11, 2011 received a bill on the ratification of an agreement between Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers and the Government of Azerbaijan on measures to develop cooperation in crude oil transportation with Ukraine. An explanatory note to the document read that «shipments of high-quality crude oil from the Caspian Region to Ukrainian oil refineries will strengthen the leverage of the state’s impact on the situation with prices on the fuel market through an increase in the share of locally produced commodities.» As if to confirm this intention, Ukrtatnafta on November 17, 2011, won a tender held by PJSC Ukrtransnafta to process 300,000 tonnes of Azeri Light oil in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the first quarter of 2012. The 200,000 tonnes of petrol and diesel fuel produced is to be sold by the operator of the Ukrainian oil transport system, Ukrtransnafta, on the country’s domestic market. Does it mean that Ukraine has really taken two more steps towards its energy independence and the creation of a stabilization reserve of fuel?
Anti-counterfeit Campaign
ON PENS AND SWORDS
Debut attempts by the Fuel Consumers Safeguarding Committee to expose traders who trade in self-made fuel have failed. As Terminal has learned, the results of the first investigation held in Donetsk region were successfully appealed against by local retail traders in court.
ONIO AND GFC BECOMING PART OF SOCAR
The State Oil Company of the Azerbaijani Republic (SOCAR) is steadily approaching its target to open 40 filling stations in Ukraine under its brand by the end of the year. Car drivers can look forward to high-quality fuel and services.
Scandals
SCANDAL OF THE WEEK: Bankers Seeking To Claim Millions From Ukrtatnafta It Does Have Debts
As Terminal has learned, Poltava region’s economic court on November 29 will start considering a claim filed by PJSC Alfa-Bank against PJSC Ukrtatnafta to recover UAH 54 million. The sides haven’t disclosed the details about how the debt was run up, but Terminal has discovered that Alfa-Bank was actively issuing loans to Ukrtatnafta in 2008 (one of these loans, with a limit of UAH 75 million, was opened in May 2008).
Forecast
NEED TO BE DETERMINED
It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World…The title of this film well describes the actions of politicians on both sides of the Atlantic who place their political ambitions higher than the need to take urgent measures to tackle their nations’ economic problems. And the international markets have started treating them warily.
IT’S TOO EARLY TO GET SCARED
According to economic forecasts given by the Psyche Center on the basis of a regressive analytical model, the price of major petrol brands won’t change this week. In particular, the average retail price of A-92 and A-95 petrol produced to DSTU 4063:2001 standards will be UAH 10.04 and UAH 10.28 per liter respectively.
Trade
CREDIBILITY GAP
Successful businesses around the globe are built on confidence. This year traders find it more and more difficult to attract consumers by using old marketing ploys. Neither new loyalty programs nor incentives to make one-time big purchase seem to work anymore.
Raw Materials
LONG TIME NO SEE
There are situations that happen over and over again. For example, Nadra Ukrainy on a constant basis holds open tenders to raise funds for the development of fields. The same fields are repeatedly put up for tenders. The name of Golden Derrick appeared last week again in association with the company.
In Coming Issues
WILL THE RESERVES SAVE THEM?
The crises that are from time to time created on the liquefied gas market with the Ukrainian government’s silent consent are encouraging traders to create developed infrastructure to store propane and butane. The country’s total storage facilities have expanded by several times since 2008.
Will the reserves save local traders or will the stocks they accumulate simply prolong the agony of the Ukrainian gas market?
PETROL COCKTAIL RECEIPTS
Every consumer has the right to choose what petrol to put in their car, where to buy it, and at what price. But sometimes one can only pity a glittering ‘steel horse’ that won’t live a long life if its eats the wrong grass. What do they add to fuel today, and what can you do to protect yourself from unwanted additives? Remember the rule: the cheaper the sausage, the more strange its effects.
You can read full articles in journal «Terminal: Oil Review» №47(581) 21 Nov 2011
