The Russian oil company Rosneft has acquired a 50% stake in Ruhr Öl refinery in Gelsenkirchen. This is one of the ten refineries supplied via the Rotterdam port with crude oil, a total of just 100 million tonnes per year. Approximately 5 million tons of which goes by pipeline to Gelsenkirchen. Ruhr Öl, for the other 50% owned by BP, is also a shareholder in the Maatschap Europoort Terminal (crude oil storage tanks) and the Rotterdam-Rhine Pipeline Company (transport to Germany). Rosneft bought the share of the Venezuelan state oil company and received besides half "Gelsenkirchen" smaller interests in three other German refineries.
Rosneft, for 75% owned of the Russian state, has been developing for some time "downstream" activities in Europe. After the purchase is 18% of its refining capacity in the industrial heart of Europe. (1)
Other Russian oil companies follow the same path. Countries already supplied with Russian oil are the most attractive for acquiring installations. In this situation one can better compete on price with the vested interests and thus increase market share. Last year the also Russian Lukoil bought the refinery in Flushing, which is also supplied with crude via Rotterdam. (*) In 2009, approximately one quarter of the Rotterdam unloaded crude oil originated from Russia.
(*) Five of the crude oil supplies via Rotterdam refineries are located in the port area (Shell, ExxonMobil, Koch, Kuwait Petroleum, BP) and Flushing is close to it. The other four are located in Antwerp and North Rhine-Westphalia. Together they use each year between 93 and 103 million tons of crude oil.
Rosneft, for 75% owned of the Russian state, has been developing for some time "downstream" activities in Europe. After the purchase is 18% of its refining capacity in the industrial heart of Europe. (1)
Other Russian oil companies follow the same path. Countries already supplied with Russian oil are the most attractive for acquiring installations. In this situation one can better compete on price with the vested interests and thus increase market share. Last year the also Russian Lukoil bought the refinery in Flushing, which is also supplied with crude via Rotterdam. (*) In 2009, approximately one quarter of the Rotterdam unloaded crude oil originated from Russia.
(*) Five of the crude oil supplies via Rotterdam refineries are located in the port area (Shell, ExxonMobil, Koch, Kuwait Petroleum, BP) and Flushing is close to it. The other four are located in Antwerp and North Rhine-Westphalia. Together they use each year between 93 and 103 million tons of crude oil.