Rosneft: Sells 5% in Vostok Oil to a Consortium of Vitol and MME

Rosneft and a consortium of Vitol S.A. and Mercantile & Maritime Energy Pte. Ltd. (75% – Vitol, 25% – MME) have closed a deal to sell a 5% stake in the authorized capital of Vostok Oil LLC.

The deal was approved at a meeting of the Rosneft Board of Directors. In accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation, the approval of the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) of Russia is not required when making a transaction.

Low unit lifting costs along with the low carbon footprint, the scale of which is 75% less as compared to that of other major petroleum projects around the world, make Vostok Oil one of the most promising oil production project in the world.  Amid a progressive growth of global economy, the current shortage of investments into the petroleum industry results in a higher demand for energy sources and necessitates implementation of novel-type projects, thus making Vostok Oil especially relevant.

The resource base of the project exceeds 6 billion tons of premium-quality sweet crude with a record low sulfur content of 0.01-0.04%. The high quality of raw materials minimizes the need of using dedicated sulfur units at refineries, which, in turn, helps significantly reduce project’s greenhouse gas emissions. The energy for Vostok Oil is expected to be supplied mainly via using assotiated pteroleum gas and wind generation.

The plan is that by 2030 the oil production at Vostok Oil will make up to the tune of 100 million tons. Vostok Oil has a logistical advantage of supplying raw products produced at its fields in two directions at once, to European and Asian markets.

Commenting on the signing, Rosneft Chief Executive Officer Igor Sechin said: “We are glad that consortium of Vitol and Mercantile & Maritime Energy has joined our flagship project. Vostok Oil has a sustainable economic model, which received positive assessments of international experts.  Logistical advantages, vast resource potential, and high quality of oil, make Vostok Oil one of the most attractive investment projects in the global energy sector.  This fact is confirmed by world’s leading traders Trafigura and Vitol participating in the project, which will give them access to “green barrels” of Vostok Oil. The Company continues its active work towards implementation of the Vostok Oil Project.