29 July 2008

Rosneft’s Filling Stations in Moscow Switch to Euro-3

Rosneft increased sales of high-quality motor fuel meeting advanced environmental standards via its Moscow retail network. In July 2008, Rosneft’s filling stations started selling Regular Euro-92 gasoline (Euro-3), and later in August, Moscow customers will be able to purchase Super Euro-98 gasoline complying with Euro-3.

Rosneft operates an extensive retail network that comprises over 1,700 filling stations in various regions of Russia. Petroleum products produced at Rosneft’s refineries meet all applicable process, environmental, and other Russian requirements. The high quality of products marketed under the Rosneft brand has been amply confirmed by both Rosneft’s quality control specialists and independent experts.

In the near future, Russia will completely shift to Euro-3 gasoline production. In Moscow, with its fast-growing vehicle fleet, additional and more stringent environmental requirements for gasoline have already been adopted. Sharing the Moscow Government’s concerns over increased air pollution, Rosneft has taken comprehensive measures to ensure that petroleum products sold via its Moscow filling stations fully comply with the new requirements.

In particular, in May—July 2008, Rosneft’s marketing subsidiary KEDR-M that owns an extensive network of 75 filling stations started selling Euro-3 Premium Euro-95 and Regular Euro-92 gasoline produced by Achinsk Refinery. It should be stressed that Normal-80 gasoline and diesel fuel sold at KEDR-M’s stations have always complied with the above-mentioned requirements. Sales of Super Euro-98 gasoline meeting the Moscow Government’s environmental standards will begin in August 2008.

KEDR-M, however, has been often blacklisted for selling low-quality petroleum products. This is clearly untrue as all fuels generally comply with relevant national standards and the Moscow Government’s requirements. Testing certificates issued by the United Research and Development Center and the Mosregiontopenergonadzor engineering and technical center confirm that Euro-2 Normal-80, Regular-92, and Premium-95 gasoline as well as diesel fuel sold via KEDR-M’s filling stations fully meet the Moscow Government’s environmental requirements.

As was previously reported, in April 2008, Achinsk Refinery commenced production of modification of Premium Euro-95 gasoline meeting Euro-4 requirements. A month earlier, the Russian National Research Institute of Oil Refining completed testing of this gasoline grade. On April 10, first commercial Premium Euro-95 output was produced at Achinsk Refinery (over 3,000 tonnes), which was shipped to the Moscow Metropolitan Area the next day.

Rosneft Information Division
July 29, 2008