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Transneft Gives Up Siege of Lithuania
// Russia will continue supplying Mazeikiai with oil
First data on Russia’s oil export schedule for the third quarter of 2006, approved by the Ministry of Industry and Energy, became known yesterday. Oil export is to grow by nearly 5 percent, and there also is export by railway which is not included here. The blockade of Lithuanian and Polish shipping terminals, expected after Polish PKN Orlen purchased Lithuanian oil refinery Mazeikiu Nafta, will not take place. On the contrary, both Rosneft and Gazpromneft will supply oil there.
The data on Russia’s oil export schedule for the third quarter of 2006 was published by Reuters agency yesterday. Transneft pumps oil through its pipeline system according to this schedule. Trading companies confirm the data. According to the schedule, Russian oil suppliers will pump over 55 million tons of oil through Transneft’s pipeline system in summer, compared to 50.13 million tons in the third quarter of 2005.
This schedule, unlike the previous one, was approved without any scandal. Shipments in Lithuanian direction, to Mazeikiai and Butinge terminals, to supply Mazeikiu Nafta oil refinery, caused most problems three months ago. At that time, YUKOS structures offered Mazeikiu Nafta for sale. Russian TNK-VR, Kazakh Kazmunaigaz, and Polish PKN Orlen competed for it. Beginning from the second quarter of 2005, YUKOS traders disappeared from the schedule, and Mazeikiu Nafta refinery was supplied by all major Russian oil companies, from Surgutneftegaz to Tatneft. The schedule for the second quarter of 2006 limited the share of Gunvor which is close to Rosneft, either in favor of Russneft, or in favor of YUKOS structures. Anyway, oil companies used the conflict concerning the schedule as an explanation for the resignation of Transneft Vice President Sergey Evlakhov.
The third quarter of 2006 seemed to become especially complicated, after PKN Orlen had purchased Mazeikiu Nafta. Sources at large trading companies like Vitol and Glencore predicted abrupt fall in supplies to Butinge and Mazeikiai, and Polish terminals. However, this did not happen. Moreover, Russian companies became major oil suppliers to Lithuania. Rosneft is to supply some 1.6 million tons, Gazpromneft—nearly 0.2 million tons, Tatneft and Bashneft—0.7 million tons (to Butinge), TNK-VR—0.6 million tons, LUKOIL—0.2 million tons (to Butinge). Supplies to Poland have not reduced either.
A major Russian trader was quoted by Reuters as saying: “Everything looks like Gunvor is the ‘coordinator’ for this direction. I see no signs of blockade on the Lithuanian direction.” Swiss trading company Gunvor is a major intermediary in oil export by Rosneft and Gazpromneft. Gunvor is among five major intermediaries of TNK-VR. Apparently, Rosneft structures and Russian authorities gave up Mazeikiu Nafta because of agreements on oil prices and amounts of supply to Poland and Lithuania. Besides, taking into account high prices on energy sources, the blockade of Lithuania would be a huge loss of profit.
Major directions of Russian oil export in 2006 (million tons)
| Direction |
Third quarter |
Second quarter |
| Russian terminals |
| Primorsk |
17.09 |
15.8 |
| Novorossiysk |
11.28 |
11.09 |
| Tuapse |
1.33 |
1.22 |
| Foreign terminals |
| Ukraine (Odessa) |
3.10 |
2.40 |
| Ukraine (Yuzhny) |
2.70 |
1.49 |
| Lithuania (Butinge) |
1.80 |
1.90 |
| Lithuania (Mazeikiai) |
1.80 |
1.83 |
| Poland (Gdansk) |
2.15 |
2.60 |
| Supplies through Druzhba pipeline |
| Germany |
5.80 |
5.44 |
| Poland |
4.65 |
4.42 |
| Czech Republic |
1.12 |
1.29 |
| Slovakia |
1.23 |
1.31 |
| Hungary |
1.83 |
1.70 |
| Source: Reuters. |
Dmitry Butrin
All the Article in Russian as of June 16, 2006
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