Rosneft can sell more than 80 gas stations in Central Russia, which it must get rid of according to FAS orders, to the Swiss trader Trafigura, writes on Friday, September 12. Kommersant

At the moment, the company is negotiating with Trafigura about the sale of gas stations in the Kostroma, Oryol, Samara, Saratov, Smolensk and Tambov regions, sources familiar with the progress of the negotiations told the newspaper. “Rosneft has 85-90 gas stations left, the company would like to sell everything to one large buyer, and there are good partnerships with Trafigura,” notes one of the interlocutors.

Rosneft and Trafigura refused to comment on this message.

The FAS ordered Rosneft to exit the retail business, since after the purchase of THK-BP, the state company's share in the fuel sales segment in the above regions exceeded 50%.

Director of Rosneft's regional sales department, Avril Conroy, reported in August that the company had sold 15% of the 101 gas stations put up for sale. She noted that independent players and individuals became buyers of gas stations. According to the publication's source, the gas station is expected to be sold by the end of 2014.

Rosneft does not disclose the terms of the sale, but, according to the publication’s market sources, “the nature of the assets is very different.” “In some places these are completely new gas stations, which can cost several million dollars, in others the gas stations are in worse condition. The company also offers to supply them with its own fuel,” the newspaper’s interlocutor said.

If the remaining gas stations are sold in one lot, he estimates the transaction amount to be “about $100 million.” At the same time, according to one of the publication’s sources, negotiations with Trafigura were conducted some time ago, and now Rosneft has again chosen the option of selling through a tender.

Trafigura is one of the world's largest commodity traders. In 2013, its turnover amounted to $133 billion. The company's subsidiary, Puma Energy, is engaged in the retail sale and storage of fuel. Puma Energy currently owns and operates approximately 1,800 gas stations in 48 countries, mainly in Central America, Africa and Australia. In Russia, the company has a representative office and fuel storage capacity of 109,600 cubic meters. m.

Rosneft may sell more than 80 gas stations to Swiss Trafigura