The fifth column

Independent gas stations prevent the oil market monopolists and the government from dictating fuel prices at its discretion

Last Thursday, Rosneft, the largest oil company in Russia, suspended the sales of motor fuel on the St. Petersburg International Production and Railway Exchange, causing a shock in the oil products market. The supply of fuel on the trading platform decreased by 40%, prices rose at once 1.5-3%. Typically, interruptions in supplies are associated with technical problems in oil refineries, but this time it was a conscious solution of one player. Rosneft management in this way expressed its dissatisfaction with the situation in the industry. “Today we have no desire to trade on the exchange, tomorrow it may not be, and then it will appear,” said the press secretary of the state-owned company Mikhail Leontyev.

The law obliges the largest oil companies to supply at least 10% of gasoline and airline production and 5% diesel fuel to the exchange, so the total balance in the market will recover sooner or later. However, the Rosneft demarche still leaves an unpleasant display: the fuel industry, weakened by the monopolism of vertically integrated companies and erratic regulation of the government, is already on the verge of crisis.

From a socially responsible state -owned company, you rather expect active support for an agreement on stabilizing retail prices for gasoline, signed by oil workers and the government this month than additional pressure on the market. But Rosneft has its own interests in this struggle: by reducing the supply of state -owned companies, protests against “contractual deals” on the exchange, cunning speculators and the monopoly position of independent gas station networks.

Rosneft paradoxically, standing up for the purity of market pricing and a competitive environment, is not shy to resort to open manipulation of the market and demonstrate who in reality sets a tone for gasoline prices.

On Monday, the state -owned company returned to the exchange after a two -day boycott, but carried out only small and “targeted” transactions, selling her oil products only to “selected” customers. According to Kommersant, a partial resumption of supplies occurred after the head of Crimea Sergey Aksenov wrote a letter to Vice-Prime Minister Dmitry Kozaku that due to the actions of Rosneft, by the end of December, the peninsula could be left without fuel.

The government listened to Aksenov and expressed their readiness to make concessions of the state -owned company. According to the Minister of Energy Alexander Novak, Rosneft's proposals on how to improve the work of the exchange are already being worked out. At the same time, the ultimatical nature of Igor Sechin’s requirements is unlikely to cause great delight in the White House, which comes further to a dead end in attempts at manual control of the fuel industry.

Comments

Dmitry Gusev

Vice President of an independent fuel union

- It is great that Rosneft returned to the exchange, we missed it very much. But this did not affect prices, because the creation of over -the -way tools does not affect the market. The fact that they give [fuel] at certain market prices by some of their coordinated customers is wonderful, we are glad, but this has nothing to do with the exchange trade.

When leaving Rosneft, some problems are possible from the exchange, but I do not think that it is necessary to create a stir. Over the next one and a half months that we have ahead, all this will cover and lollow. Three days of lack of trading will not play a special role

Everyone has the right to express their position: Rosneft decided to express it in this way.

This situation can be explained by the lack of an adequate, systematic approach to regulatory policy in the industry in our state. It is impossible to reach our regulators, so players have to at least show in this way: “Guys, pay attention to us, we say something, let's discuss it.”

Our proposals by 90% intersect with the proposals of Rosneft, but with some nuances: we are for a transparent market, against speculative transactions against the background of insufficient offer, for limiting the work of brokers for resale. We all want adequate transparent rules and the growth of volumes on the exchange. If, relatively speaking, 50% of the consumption of gasoline and diesel fuel in the domestic market will be sold on the exchange, then everyone will have enough: traders, brokers, speculators, independent gas stations, Rosneft, and wishes ( vertically integrated oil companies . - Ed. ).

The question is that the government does not hear this and is trying all the time to approve some prices with which we need to work, without having agreed with anyone. Someone considered that we should earn so much and no more. Well, wonderful, guys, maybe you will work for this money, and we will stand and see what effectiveness you will have? If we do not solve anything, then either after the New Year, or after March 31, there will be a collapse on the market.

Mikhail Krutikhin

Partner of Rusenergy

- “Rosneft” by law is obliged to partially resume sales. And when Rosneft stopped selling oil products for some time a few days ago, it was simply blackmail. This is such a demarche that was designed to establish mutual understanding with the government - they say, now they will meet oil companies, which, according to Rosneft, have some problems.

Demarsh, apparently, did not pass, and Rosneft was forced to resume its previous operations on the exchange.

The whole story has spurred prices. Especially among independent gas station operators. Today I drove around Moscow: at the 92nd gasoline, prices were from 42 to 44 rubles per liter. In some places they greatly jumped. And in the regions this increase was even more.

Rosneft's statements about transparency of transactions and market pricing are a purely propaganda step. They are trying to squeeze independent competitors. Competitors are not to blame here. Yes, in each province and each region there is a conspiracy of two or three companies that are trying to dictate prices in the market, but this is not centrally throughout the country. This is not as noticeable as the conspiracy of large oil companies with the government to keep prices in the calculation of some compensation. These are two different scenarios.

The benefit for Rosneft in pressure at gas stations is a psychological moment.

Igor Ivanovich Sechin terribly wants to enlarge his company. He climbed to gigantic debts to the Chinese to only buy some independent companies-from Yukos, TNK-BP, Bashneft and so on.

With his strategy, he inflicted more damage to the Russian oil industry than anyone else. I can only explain this by a psychological desire to control cash flows.

• Arnold Khachaturov, Lilit Sargsyan, Tatyana Vasilchuk, "New"

CRIMEA

In the story with the current fuel crisis, Crimea stands apart

The head of the republic, Sergei Aksenov, decided to remind Moscow of the sanction regime. And he wrote to Vice Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak a letter in which he said that due to Demarsh Rosneft (the company refused to expose gasoline and diesel fuel for bidding), the peninsula could be left without fuel at the end of December.

- The Crimean gasoline market by more than 50% depends on Rosneft, the diesel fuel market is more than 90%. Moreover, we buy all fuel on the St. Petersburg Exchange, we simply do not have other sources due to sanctions, ”the interlocutor of Novaya Gazeta in the Council of People's Commissars of the Republic notes. - Dmitry Kozaku was proposed to consider the possibility of over -the -term fuel supplies to the Crimea. And in the end, it seems that everything went according to this scenario.

On November 19, representatives of Rosneft really announced a partial return to the market.

- Now the question has been raised about changing the fuel system of the peninsula. This change should still satisfy Rosneft, but so far we can say that the position of Crimea helped all of Russia if not avoided, then certainly delayed the fuel collapse.

Crimean motorists, however, did not manage to notice the impending collapse.

“Baskets at gas stations are available, and the prices for it are really frozen,” says Viktor Yadukha, editor -in -chief of the Sevastopol edition of the Note. -Another thing is that they are frozen at 50 rubles per liter of the 95th. That is, the price of gasoline in the Crimea and without a crisis is crisis. The lack of competition is the fault, and the Crimean bridge in this regard, unfortunately, did not change anything.

One of the Novaya Gazeta gas station networks on the peninsula reported that they were accepting the information of the head of the Crimea about the possible shortage of gasoline “to take note”, but they do not take it seriously.

- Nobody, of course, will not leave Crimea without gasoline. This is difficult to imagine in any region, and especially in which the whole world looks at. In any case, in Moscow they will make it so that there will be fuel here. But even if some crisis happens and there will be a decrease in the volume of fuel shipment, then Crimean companies are unable to be in danger: due to sanctions, the Crimean market is not in demand by large players. They will buy from us anyway. Maybe a profit will fall. But this can be endured.

Ivan Zhilin , "New"

Saratov region

The situation with gasoline threatens small gas stations

This fall, independent gas stations in the Saratov region have encountered the inability to buy wholesale parties of diesel fuel. According to the co-owner of the GP Vympel network Ekaterina Savkin, the deficit lasted two to three weeks. According to the entrepreneur, the reason was the coincidence of factors - a seasonal transition from summer fuel to winter and the desire of manufacturers to send as many goods as possible for export.

In June, at a special meeting of the regional public chamber, the owners of independent gas stations announced the threat of closing. In total, about 350 gas stations operate in the region. Of these, 80 belong to Rosneft, 40 - Lukoil. The rest are small and medium -sized businesses. Through them, according to the estimates of the Saratov Ministry of Industry, 44% of the fuel is sold. Moreover, in ten remote areas of the region only independent gas stations work. According to entrepreneurs themselves, in the year they give the regional budget 165 million rubles of taxes and contain 1.5 thousand employees.

The July reduction of excise taxes practically did not help Saratov motorists. The price of the AI-92 liter in the middle of summer was 41.35 rubles. For the first half of 2018, the fuel in the region rose by 9%.

In autumn, wholesale prices began to grow. According to the estimates of the regional Duma, from January to October, the cost of fuel in the wholesale segment increased in the region by 35%. “I have a simple question - why are the wholesale prices above the retail? This is a blow to independent sellers, ”said deputy Pavel Artemov, representing the Volga areas, where mainly small gas stations work. Parliamentarians held a meeting with the participation of the regional department of the FAS. The controlling service replied to all questions that "each business entity independently determines the price."

In October, independent gas stations were faced with the inability to buy wholesale parties of diesel fuel. Note that the main manufacturer of oil products in the region is the Rosneft plant, designed to process 7 million tons of raw materials per year.

The regional government described the situation as "some interruptions in deliveries." According to fuel suppliers, “the problem is exclusively organizational”: the fact is that counterparties are late with the execution of the application, which is supposed to be submitted in 38 days.

According to Ekaterina Savkin, today there is no shortage on the wholesale market. However, entrepreneurs are worried about the legislative innovation - the indicative level of prices (IUC) for each region for wholesale batch of fuel. In retail trade, independent tankers are required not to exceed this level by more than 4%. “Our sale costs are about 10%. Under such conditions, we will not be able to work. Now we are considering a plan for a business folding, ”said the interlocutor.

Today, the company Savkin sells AI-92 by 41.9 rubles per liter, AI-95-45.1 rubles each, diesel fuel-45.5 rubles each. “We bought wholesale parties before the introduction of the IUC at higher prices. Now we are trading at a direct loss from each liter, only so as not to lose the client base, ”said the“ new ”entrepreneur. - I think that the federal authorities have enough tools to expand the current crisis. But so far there was no feeling that someone is protecting us, small and medium-sized businesses. ”

Nadezhda Andreeva, "New"

Murmansk region

The increase in oil prices struck a hole in the regional budget

In Murmansk, the rise in price of fuel hit not only motorists, although gas prices rise rapidly, but also at communal workers. Together with gasoline, fuel oil, which almost all boiler rooms are heated. On the threshold of the winter of this blow, no one, as usual, predicted, and in the budget the money for the purchase of fuel at new tariffs is not provided.

Gasoline in the Murmansk region has risen sharply in mid -October, and has since demonstrated smooth growth. Then the cost of a liter jumped on average almost a ruble - both in networkers and on independent gas stations. Then, according to the OFAS, the fuel (formerly “status”) was most sustainably valuable in the network of Cirkle K (formerly “status”), the rest of the gas stations were slowed down. However, the peculiarity of the region is a wide range of prices at the gas stations of the same networks, depending on logistics availability. So, traditionally the highest prices show gas stations near two checkpoints of the Russian-Finnish border. Firstly, the transport shoulder is 300 km, and secondly, the Finns come to refuel, because compared to the price tag on the other side of the border is still cheaper.

The price of prices is given by Lukoil and Service, and even in small independent networks that hold only a few gas stations, you can find the same 95th gasoline at a price, for example, from 44 to 47 rubles per liter. The lowest and relatively uniform price holds predictably “Rosneft”: 44 rubles per liter of the 95th and 48-for diesel.

The diesel fuel in the region is traditionally the most expensive, now the average price for it ranges from 51 rubles per liter. The authorities do not intervene in the situation, and the people have not yet begun to protest. The prices for fuel oils, which in the future will be reflected in receipts for heat and not only in them in the future, become a more acute problem. In March, a ton of furnace fuel oil on the exchange cost about 14 thousand rubles, by the summer it exceeded 20. At the same time, the regional budget was turned out at the rate of 13 thousand per ton.

Already now, the size of the subsidy, which the budget of the region should provide heat power industry for fuel purchases, has grown from the expected three to six billion. Take the money from nowhere, the budget is scarce. To close the hole, in the budget for the next year, the subsidation of the social sphere is reduced, for example, medicine is not counted more than half a billion. But if these resources cannot be found, the region will freeze in winter, as it was more than once. The regional authorities ask Moscow to reserve a certain amount of fuel oil at a fixed price for 5 years. Otherwise, the budget will burst.

Tatyana Britskaya, "New"

Krasnoyarsk Territory

Independent gas stations are declared by resellers and doomed to extinction

A full house at the Rosneft’s NPC NPC lasted a week: the line from the fuel trucks of several regions at the peak reached three hundred cars and stretched along the highway several kilometers, later reduced to parking at the overpass. Drivers waited for two to three days, slept in cars. I’ll clarify: the fuel was paid, but they could not get it. Does this mean that late Soviet times can return when, even at ordinary gas stations, private traders stood in many hours of lines? At the refinery, the availability of problems is denied: “In connection with the occurreed cold, there is an increased demand for winter diesel fuel from independent market participants, who did not create its reserves in advance. The Achinsky refinery provides its development in accordance with the production program for November. The shipment of the winter DT into tankers is carried out on the over -the -clock fever of the clock and is limited only by the throughput of the overpass. According to the standards, all market participants must create the necessary reserve of winter DT by November 1. However, some unscrupulous market participants are trying to play the price situation, pursuing their economic interests. ”

Rosneft fuel trucks, meanwhile, took place without a queue - according to the testimony of those who stood in it. Apparently, these are educational measures for "independent market participants."

As a result, the DT rose by 2 rubles - to 47.4 at Rosneft gas stations in Krasnoyarsk and the surroundings. But despite the rise in price, the queues were formed at the gas station (mainly from buses). Since other market participants have solarium or not, or it is even more expensive. The 25 hours of DT costs, independent of Rosneft, costs 50 rubles now. And up to 52 and even higher - if you leave Krasnoyarsk.

The Omsk Oil Refinery Gazpromneft, according to the President of the Union of Independent Strokes of Krasnoyarsk, Yevgeny Reshetnikov, began to release fuel only for its gas stations (and at the gas station of this company in Krasnoyarsk 47.55 rubles). Because of this, in many ways there was a stir at the gates of the Achinsky refinery, this opinion is confirmed by Krasnoyarsknefteprodukt JSC, controlled by regional power.

Еще об одном нюансе рассказывает депутат красноярского горсовета и бизнесмен Константин Сенченко: «Газпромнефть» оставила цены на топливо прежние, но за пользование личным кабинетом для юрлиц ( сервисные услуги. — А.Т. ) ввела комиссию от 1 до 3,75% от стоимости закупленных нефтепродуктов. Таким образом, фактические расходы на бензин вырастут, но Дмитрий Медведев всей стране расскажет, как он «заморозил» цены. Они просто издеваются над всей страной и держат людей за идиотов».

И еще Сенченко — по поводу инициатив «Роснефти»: «Игорь Иванович в очередной раз показал, кто в доме хозяин. Независимые заправки объявлены перекупщиками и приговорены к умиранию. Учитывая, что любая розница — это всегда покупка оптом по одной цене и продажа в розницу по другой, то перекупщиками можно объявить всю розницу и не только заправки. Завтра перекупщиками назовут ваш супермаркет у дома, и очередной Игорь Иванович перекроет поставки туда продуктов».

Alexey Tarasov, "New"

Primorye

Во Владивостоке после подписания соглашения между нефтяниками и правительством каких-то радикальных изменений не произошло

Крупнейшая в Приморье сеть заправок принадлежит АО «ННК Приморнефтепродукт», в ноябре на них серьезных изменений не зафиксировано. На АЗС «Роснефти», которых в регионе сравнительно мало, подорожало дизельное топливо: с 44,85 до 46,85 рубля. Сеть заправок «Октант» по-прежнему предлагает, пожалуй, самое дорогое топливо в городе (стоимость литра высокооктанового бензина АИ-98 и солярки уже зашкалила за 50 рублей). Заметное снижение цен на бензин АИ-95 и дизельное топливо отмечено разве что в автозаправочной сети Benzo: 95-й подешевел с 46,59 до 43,39 рубля, дизель — с 51,99 до 47,69. Если говорить о более или менее бюджетных АЗС, то сегодня в Приморье можно приобрести литр бензина АИ-92 за 41,6–41,9 рубля, АИ-95 — за 42,3–42,9 рубля. Дизельное топливо обходится в среднем в 44,3–45,3 рубля, АИ-98 — в 44,8–45,5 рубля.

Vasily Avchenko , "New"

Kamchatka

Топливо оптом продают дороже, чем в розницу, — и его покупают

На топливном рынке Камчатки сложилась странная ситуация: бензин и соляра оптом стоят дороже, чем в розницу. Чтобы убедиться в этом, достаточно зайти на сайт госзакупок. Автобаза губернатора недавно приобрела 10 тысяч литров бензина АИ-92 за 464 тысячи рублей — то есть по 46,40 рубля за литр. Хотя на заправках эту марку топлива можно купить дешевле на 80 копеек. Чиновники объяснили экономический парадокс особенностями камчатского рынка. В чем же заключаются эти особенности?

По критериям ФАС доминирующее положение в регионе занимает АО «ННК-Камчатнефтепродукт». Этой организации принадлежит еще советская инфраструктура хранения и перевалки топлива — резервуары, причалы, сеть автозаправок. В 2014 году фирму выкупил кипрский офшор Vostok Oil (Cyprus) Limited. Сейчас предприятие входит в АО «Независимая нефтегазовая компания» (ННК) Эдуарда Худайнатова — бывшего руководителя «Роснефти». ННК владеет нефтеперерабатывающим заводом в Хабаровске, с которого в основном и завозят топливо в Камчатский край.

Конкурентом ННК можно считать партнерство «Владельцев АЗС Камчатки». Оно объединяет предпринимателей, занимающихся розничными продажами бензина и соляры. Члены партнерства покупают топливо у ННК и реализуют его на собственных АЗС.

Фирма Эдуарда Худайнатова в последние месяцы значительно повысила оптовые цены, однако держит розницу на сети своих заправок. В компании объясняют это тем, что чувствуют социальную ответственность перед водителями. У «Владельцев АЗС Камчатки» по этому поводу иное мнение. Они считают, что их выдавливают с рынка. «Социальная» деятельность ННК уже привела к тому, что члены партнерства с мая потеряли примерно 40% своих клиентов. И это неудивительно, большинство водителей ездят заправляться в «Камчатнефтепродукт», где бензин стоит дешевле. Там теперь даже выстраиваются очереди из автомобилей.

«Розничные цены на заправках «ННК-Камчатнефтепродукт» не являются экономически обоснованными — проверка ФАС показала, что сеть компании работает в убыток. ННК временно может себе это позволить… Кроме того, часть потерь в рознице она может компенсировать за счет оптовых продаж. We have no such opportunity. Мы не в состоянии работать с отрицательной рентабельностью. Если ничего не изменится, нас в скором времени просто разорят. Тогда, возможно, бензином и солярой на Камчатке будет торговать только одна компания. И она станет диктовать цену уже не владельцам АЗС, а всем водителям», — высказал свое мнение информагентству «Кам 24» представитель партнерства Вадим Кукоба.

При этом, по его словам, владельцы АЗС оказались в ситуации, когда закупать оптом топливо они могут, по сути, только у ННК.

Положение дел, при котором на всю Камчатку имеется только один поставщик автомобильного топлива, признавал ненормальным даже губернатор Владимир Илюхин. Пару лет назад он пообещал наладить альтернативную схему поставок. Но что-то у него пошло не так. Схема до сих пор не налажена и, похоже, уже никогда не заработает.

Есть версия, что сложившаяся ситуация выгодна власти. С одной крупной компанией проще договориться. Накануне выборов в Госдуму или краевое Заксобрание, например, топливо на Камчатке не дорожает. Перед выборами президента оно даже подешевело. Правда, вскоре после голосования все вернулось на круги своя.

Кстати, несмотря на социальную ориентированность крупнейшего продавца топлива, бензин в крае является одним из самых дорогих в стране. Сегодня на заправках «ННК-Камчатнефтепродукта» АИ-92 стоит 45,60 рубля за литр, АИ-95 — 49,25 рубля, солярка — 50,35 рубля…

Владимир Хитров, специально для «Новой»

Sverdlovsk region

После окончания заморозки цена на бензин пойдет вверх

— Если «Роснефть» сократит отгрузку топлива независимым нефтяным компаниям (ННК) даже на 40%, а не на 90%, как она это сделала в Сибири, нам просто придется закрыться, — признает менеджер одной из местных ННК. — Свердловская область традиционно находится под контролем крупных игроков: «Роснефти», «Газпромнефти» и ЛУКОЙЛа. Эти компании контролируют здесь 80% рынка автозаправок. Независимым нефтяникам и до нынешнего кризиса приходилось туго, потому что наши заправки стоят на наименее популярных направлениях: север области, Тавда. А Нижний Тагил, Челябинск, Тюмень — почти полная монополия ЛУКОЙЛа и «Газпромнефти».

Независимые нефтяные компании на Среднем Урале, по словам собеседника «Новой», выживают только благодаря целой комбинации факторов.

— Наша компания закупает бензин у «Башнефти» по оптовой цене, да еще и участвует в программе лояльности. Мы делаем низкую наценку для розничных клиентов — ниже, чем сама «Башнефть», и у нас минимальное количество персонала. Все это позволяет продавать бензин примерно на рубль дешевле, чем его продают на АЗС крупных компаний. И вот тот клиент, который желает сэкономить рубль, идет к нам.

Собеседник «Новой» утверждает, что если завтра «Роснефть», чьей структурой является «Башнефть», сократит отгрузку, то компании, «которые и так вынуждены на всем экономить», просто не смогут зарабатывать.

— Существенных запасов бензина и дизтоплива ни у кого из независимых нефтяников в Свердловской области нет. Просто не на что эти запасы создавать. Неделя-две без отгрузок, и в регионе останутся только крупные игроки.

Что касается цен на бензин, то в Свердловской области они действительно заморожены. Цена 95-го колеблется от 42,2 до 44,4 рубля за литр, Дизельного топлива — от 42,9 до 44,5 рубля за литр. Малые автозаправщики считают заморозку приемлемой мерой, представители крупных нефтяных компаний оперативно комментировать ситуацию отказываются. При этом собеседники «Новой» однозначно утверждают, что после окончания заморозки цена на бензин пойдет вверх.

С нефтяниками согласен и председатель Союза автомобилистов Свердловской области Геннадий Бурлуцкий.

— Разумеется, как только цены будут разморожены, они пойдут вверх. Государство своим волевым решением может лишь сдержать темпы этого роста. И оно, конечно, будет сдерживать, потому что эта тема вызывает довольно сильную напряженность в обществе.

Ivan Zhilin , "New"