www.energyintel.com A weekly publication on oil and gas in Russia, the Caspian, Central Asia and Eastern Europe Vol. XXIII, No. 14 April 10, 2014 Copyright © 2014 Energy Intelligence Group. All rights reserved. Unauthorized access or electronic forwarding, even for internal use, is prohibited. Russia Mulls Plan B In Case Sanction Escalate Russian oil and gas companies claim their operations have Print not been affected by the sanctions imposed so far by the West over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea. But to counter the threat of new restrictions, Russia is considering various protective measures, including a possible switch to rubles in payments for Russian oil and gas, and the delisting of Russian companies’ shares from Western stock markets. Those proposals are taken with a pinch of salt by experts but there is little doubt they would be implemented if a political order is given. Insisting that it is business as usual, Russian companies recognize that the most sensitive issue could be in attracting financing from Western banks, with costs likely to rise. Novatek’s Yamal LNG project could be the first to feel the impact as US Eximbank has refused to participate in financing the $27 billion project because Novatek’s major shareholder Gennady Timchenko is on the US sanctions list (NC Mar.27’14). France’s Total, which holds 20% in Yamal LNG, says it doesn’t expect any other credit agency to withdraw. However, it understands that the cost of the loan that the Yamal LNG shareholders are negotiating with a group of international and Russian banks could rise. “We will have to optimize the benefit of having external financing with the cost of it and what is the right balance which we will be comfortable with,” Jacques de Boisseson, general director of Total E&P Russie, said in an exclusive interview with Nefte Compass (p5). However, market rumors claim that Novatek, to be more confident of the project’s success, is interested in selling another 9% out of its current 60% stake in Yamal LNG to China National Petroleum Corp., which already has 20%. This could not only secure a reliable gas buyer for Yamal LNG, but also provide sources of finance that are out of the reach of Western sanctions. Turning to Asian banks is also being considered by other Russian companies. Gazprom Neft President Alexander Dyukov told reporters last week that the company “has paved the way to Asian creditors” in case Western banks stop cooperating. Dyukov said such a move by Western banks would be “unlikely,” pointing to the receipt of a loan after sanctions had been introduced from a club of international banks, including Bank of America Merrill Lynch. “Everything Web (see Russia, page 2) Inside This Issue: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Gazprom Neft approaches Iraq field start-up, page 3 Russia falls short of flaring target, page 4 NC interview with Total Russia’s chief, page 5 US rattles sabers in energy war with Russia, page 7 No light at tunnel’s end for Kashagan, page 10 Russia could force Ukraine to pre-pay for gas, page 11 Kazakhstan Spooked by Russia Sanctions Talk Alarmed by the prospect of the West imposing tougher sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, Kazakhstan has drawn up contingency plans to reduce oil exports via the Russian pipeline system and reroute the barrels to other destinations, including China, Georgia and Iran. In a presentation this week to members of Parliament, Kazakhstan’s Oil and Gas Minister Uzakbai Karabalin said concrete measures needed to be taken to deal with the repercussion of any sanctions on Russia. “We cannot feel relaxed and wait for what might happen. We cannot predict what sanctions Russia may face from the West,” he was quoted as saying. Karabalin said it was imperative for Kazakhstan to have as many export routes as possible at its disposal. “The current global situation once again emphasizes how important it is to diversify crude exports routes,” he said. Karabalin, an industry veteran who spent several years as head of state oil company Kazmunaigas (KMG), told deputies that last year more than 60% of Kazakhstan’s crude oil exports by pipeline went via Russia. He said 28.7 million metric tons (560,000 barrels per day) of crude was sent via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) system to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, making up 40% of the total, while deliveries via the Atyrau-Samara pipeline accounted for 5.4 million tons (310,000 b/d), or 21% of the total. Of the remainder, 11.8 million tons of Kazakh crude was piped to China via the pipeline running from Atasu to Alashankou on the Chinese border, while 9.3 million tons was sent to the Caspian port of Aktau, for onward shipment either to Baku and then by rail to the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi, or to the Russian port of Makhachkala and then by pipeline to Novorossiysk. If exports through Russia are hampered, Kazakhstan (see Kazakhstan, page 2) Chairman: Raja W. Sidawi. Vice Chairman: Marcel van Poecke. Chief Strategy Officer & Chairman Executive Committee: Lara Sidawi Moore. Editor-in-Chief: Thomas Wallin. Editor-at-Large: Sarah Miller. Editor: Michael Ritchie ([email protected]). Editorial Offices: Interpark House, 7 Down Street, 3rd Floor, London W1J 7AJ, UK. .Tel: 44-20-7518-2220. Fax: 44-20-7518-2221. Moscow Bureau: 20 Daev Pereulok, Daev Plaza, Office 509, 107045, Moscow. Tel: 7-495-604-8279. Fax: 7-495-604-8276. Washington Bureau: 1-202-662-0700. New York Bureau: Tel: 1-212-532-1112. Houston Bureau: Tel:1-713-222-9700. Singapore Bureau: Tel: 65-538-0363. Sales: [email protected]. Tel: 44-20-7632-4714. Fax: 44-20-7404-1788. Circulation: 5 East 37th Street, New York, NY 10016-2807. Tel: 1-212-532-1112. Fax: 1-212-532-4479. Email: [email protected]. Web site: www.energyintel.com. Energy Intelligence also publishes: Petroleum Intelligence Weekly, EI New Energy, Energy Compass, Energy Intelligence Briefing, Energy Intelligence Finance, International Oil Daily, Jet Fuel Intelligence, Natural Gas Week, NGW’s Gas Market Reconaissance, Nuclear Intelligence Weekly, Oil Daily, Oil Market Intelligence, World Gas Intelligence. NC page 2 Russia (continued from page 1) happened in the usual way. There have been no delays, no questions, either oral or written,” he said. Another “Plan B” that Gazprom Neft and other Russian companies are working on is abandoning US dollars in their oil and gas contracts. The idea was launched by Andrei Kostin, chairman of the executive board of state-controlled VTB bank. “This to a certain extent will be a guarantee that if someone wants to impose sanctions against us similar to the Iranian ones, we will have some degree of protection against that,” he said in a interview with the Russian television station Rossiya. He added though that a move to use a certain currency as a means of payment should be a free decision taken by Russian exporters and importers, as well as by their Western and Eastern partners. Kostin said the heads of Russia’s three state-controlled companies — Rosneft, Gazprom and Rostechnologies — are ready for such a switch. G a z p ro m s p o k e s m a n S e rg e i Kupriyanov confirmed the gas giant is considering a more active use of rubles in payments with counteragents overseas. Dyukov was more cautious. “We have discussed with our buyers the possibility of switching contracts to euros and ... 95% said they are ready.” He added that if the order is issued to move to rubles, “nothing is impossible.” The only thing that needs to be studied is the efficiency of such a move ... For me, this remains an open question,” Dyukov said. Representatives of other Russian companies are even less enthusiastic. Rosneft said it uses the currencies stipulated in its contracts with buyers. “What is important for us is to fulfill the contract obligations,” Rosneft President Igor Sechin was quoted as saying. A representative of one Russian independent was blunt: “I don’t understand how this could be done,” he said. A source in another April 10, 2014 company pointed to the possible loss of advantages that Russian exporters have enjoyed as they receive revenues in dollars while the majority of their expenses are in rubles, where the exchange rate has dropped. As for switching to euros, Europe is not the only market for Russian oil and gas, experts say, adding that the banks could be the main winners from such a move. Traders are skeptical about the plan too and don’t foresee any changes, noting the significance of Rosneft’s multibillion-dollar five-year prefinancing deals with traders Glencore, Vitol and Trafigura. The call from Russia’s First Deputy Minister Igor Shuvalov for Russian companies to switch the registration of their shares to the Moscow stock exchange from London and New York has met with even less enthusiasm. Lukoil President Vagit Alekperov simply reiterated the company’s outstanding plan to obtain a listing in Hong Kong. Nelli Sharushkina, Moscow Kazakhstan (continued from page 1) could ship more oil from Aktau, which has a working capacity of 12 million tons per year, Karabalin said. More barrels could be sent out of Batumi, which is 100% owned by KMG subsidiary Kaztransoil and is used as a regular export outlet for waxy crude from K a z a k h s t a n ’s K u m k o l f i e l d . Alternatively, oil could be shipped south to Iran — but only provided that the US and EU ease sanctions which prohibit oil trade with Iran. This may not happen for some while, as negotiations between Iran and the West on resolving the impasse over Iran’s nuclear program make slow progress. Karabalin said Iran was an “effective” route for Kazakhstan before the shipments ground to a halt in July 2010 because of sanctions. At their peak, as much as 50,000 b/d of Kazakh crude was being shipped in small tankers to Iran’s Neka terminal and then swapped for better-quality Iranian Light crude at Kharg Island. The deliveries were handled by Caspian Oil Developments, a Dutch-registered joint venture between well-connected Kazakh interests and Swiss trader Vitol. On the receiving end was Naftiran Intertrade Co., a subsidiary of state-owned National Iranian Oil Co. which has been blacklisted by the US and the EU over its alleged links to the Iranian regime. Kazakhstan is also eager to increase exports to China, but Karabalin says this will not happen until the capacity of the AtasuAlashankou pipeline is expanded to 20 million tons/yr, a process he said would take another two years (NC Oct.24’13). Pipelines are not the only way for Kazakhstan to get its crude to market. Last year, around 9 million tons, or some 12% of overall exports, were dispatched by rail, mostly to ports on Russia’s Black Sea. In recent years, some oil from the Karachaganak and Tengiz fields was being railed across Russia to the Crimean port of Feodosiya, but shipments have stopped since Russia annexed the peninsula and are unlikely to resume (NC May9’13). The main Russian Black Sea outlet for railed Kazakh crude is the term i n a l a t Ta m a m n o r t h o f Novorossiysk which is developing into a key transshipment hub for high quality Tengiz crude produced by the Chevron-led Tengizchevroil (TCO) joint venture. More than five cargoes of 80,000 tons each are now shipped each month out of Tamam, which is owned by private Russian group Oteko. Industry sources say Tamam offers TCO by far the best tariffs compared to other routes such as Baku-Batumi. TCO still sends the bulk of its oil via the CPC pipeline, which is now in the process of being expanded (NC Feb.13’14). Paul Sampson, London Editorial Staff: Moscow Bureau Chief: Nelli Sharushkina. Senior Correspondents: Axel Busch, Paul Sampson, Nadezhda Sladkova. Staff Reporter: Gary Peach. Copyright © 2014 by Energy Intelligence Group, Inc. ISSN 0968-6452. Nefte Compass ® is a registered trademark of Energy Intelligence. All rights reserved. Access, distribution and reproduction are subject to the terms and conditions of the subscription agreement and/or license with Energy Intelligence. Access, distribution, reproduction or electronic forwarding not specifically defined and authorized in a valid subscription agreement or license with Energy Intelligence is willful copyright infringement. Additional copies of individual articles may be obtained using the pay-per-article feature offered at www.energyintel.com. NC page 3 April 10, 2014 Russia Total Buys First Cargo From Arctic Oil Field The first crude oil cargo from the Gazprom Neft-operated Prirazlomnoye offshore field in the Arctic has been bought by Total, market sources say. The 70,000-ton tanker is to start its journey from the Pechora Sea to Rotterdam in the next few days. The cargo was sold in the course of direct negotiations with a discount to Russia’s Urals export blend because the Prirazlomnoye crude is heavy and contains a lot of sulfur, traders say. Market players do not expect Gazprom Neft, which is developing the 530 million bbl Prirazlomnoye field, to tender crude from the acreage this year but rather to continue selling it based on direct talks with buyers, as output this year is pegged at only 300,000 tons. It will also want the markets to develop a taste for the new crude. Gazprom Neft, the oil arm of state-controlled gas giant Gazprom, started production at Prirazlomnoye at the end of December, with output expected to peak at 120,500 b/d in 2021. Gazprom Neft President Alexander Dyukov said last week that development of the acreage would be economically viable even at an oil price of $80/bbl, thanks to tax breaks granted by the government for offshore fields (NC Apr.3’14). Russia to Test New Profits-Based Tax Russia has seemingly made some progress in long-term discussions over switching to a new profitsbased tax system from the current one based on revenues. However, the effectiveness of the new system will initially only be tested on selected projects. R u s s i a ’s e n e rg y m i n i s t e r, Alexander Novak, said on Apr. 9 that the country’s tax issues up to 2018 were discussed the day before at a meeting chaired by First Vice Premier Igor Shuvalov. Novak said all the participants of the meeting, except for Russia’s finance ministry, supported the idea of introducing an excess profits tax for pilot projects starting from 2015. A “decision has been made by R u s s i a ’s P r e m i e r ” [ D m i t r y Medvedev] to prepare the necessary legislative changes, the minister said. “Shuvalov also supported the issue yesterday,” Novak added. The energy ministry hopes that the list of pilot projects eligible for the new tax system should be prepared in the autumn. Russian oil firms have been asking for a shift to the profits-based tax system for at least 10 years. Russian officials earlier said that it makes sense to test the system first in pilot schemes. Among those companies that might start enjoying the new system next year are Lukoil, Surgutneftegas, Bashneft and Tatneft, which have all been dis- cussing the move with state officials for the last two years. Lukoil might get an excess profit tax for its giant Imilorskoye field in West Siberia, where the country’s second-large s t c r u d e p ro d u c e r re c e n t l y started drilling with a view to launching production in March 2015 (NC Feb.27’14). Surgutneftegas hopes the new system will be applicable to its giant Shpilmana (North-Rogozhn i k o v s k o y e ) f i e l d i n We s t Siberia, one of the largest deposits discovered in Soviet times, which it won in 2012. Gazprom Neft Confirms Iraq Start-Up Target Gazprom Neft has confirmed its plans to start production at the Badra field in Iraq next month, although sources claim the launch could be delayed if surface facilities Russian Oil Exports Drop in March Russian crude oil exports to countries outside the former Soviet Union (FSU) stood at 4.04 million b/d last month, down from 4.14 million b/d in the same period last year as a result of lower shipments from key Russian export outlets on the Baltic and Black Seas. Exports to neighboring Belarus and Kazakhstan dropped by 31% to 428,000 b/d. Exports to Kazakhstan are currently labeled as shipments outside the FSU under a swap agreement between Moscow and Astana that envisages supplies of Rosneft’s crude to Kazakh refineries and the subsequent shipment of the same amount to China, in line with an agreement between Rosneft and China National Petroleum Corp. Exports via the system of Russia’s oil pipeline monopoly Transneft averaged 3.56 million b/d in March, down by 5% on the year largely due to lower shipments from the Primorsk and Ust-Luga outlets on the Baltic Sea, which dropped by 25% to just 1 million b/d (table, p12). Russia’s Energy www.energyintel.com Minister Alexander Novak confirmed on Apr. 9 that crude shipments from those ports will start declining in favor of higher exports to the east, but in turn, Moscow is planing to use the freed capacities for expanded product shipments (NC Mar.13’14). Exports via the Druzhba pipeline to Europe dropped slightly from 982,000 b/d last year to 941,000 b/d last month. In the east, shipments to China via the spur from the East Siberia-Pacific Ocean (Espo) pipeline and via Kazakhstan increased last month to 452,600 b/d as opposed to 302,000 b/d from the Espo spur alone last year. Shipments from the port of Kozmino at the end of the Espo pipeline jumped by 11% to 472,700 b/d. Exports bypassing the Tr a n s n e f t s y s t e m a v e r a g e d 490,000 b/d, up by 18% on the year mainly due to higher shipments of crude from the Trebs and Titov oil fields developed by Bashneft and Lukoil. The crude was exported from Lukoil’s Arctic NC page 4 April 10, 2014 Russia are not installed on time. Work is progressing at a “very slow” pace, according to insiders, which may push back commissioning of the 6 billion bbl field. Gazprom is developing Badra together with Korea Gas, Malaysia’s Petronas and Turkey’s TPAO. It’s not the first time Gazprom Neft has had to postpone production start-up at Badra, which was originally scheduled to begin in August or September of last year. UK-listed services company Petrofac has been working on surface installations, and Gazprom Neft recently changed its drilling contractor, choosing Chinese Zhongman Petroleum and Natural Gas Group to replace Schlumberger, which had run into geological difficulties. Gazprom Neft produced its first oil from the field in December last year before completing testing of the BD-4 well. In mid-March, the company completed tests at the second well and is currently drilling the third well at the site. This year work should start on drilling more exploration wells across the acreage (NC Jan.16’14). Gazprom Neft says output should reach 350,000 metric tons this year and eventually rise to over 1 million tons (20,000 b/d) in 2015. Peak production of 170,700 b/d should be reached in 2017 and last for several years under the Badra service contract, which Gazprom Neft won in a tender in late 2009. According to Gazprom Neft head Alexander Dyukov, about $1 billion has been invested in the project. The Russian major will start recouping costs and a $5.50/ bbl remuneration fee in kind once Badra’s production stands at 15,000 b/d for 90 days. Dyukov told reporters last week that members of the consortium could market their shares of oil separately or could nominate a special company to do that if this turns out to be more efficient. He failed to give the specifications of the crude to be pumped from Badra, noting only that it would be in line with the characteristics of Basrah Light, which is of 30.2° API gravity with a 2.5% sulfur content. Gazprom Oil Find Boosts Sakhalin Reserves Russian officials confirmed that a big oil discovery has been made by Gazprom at its Yuzhno-Kirinskoye field in the Sakhalin-3 Block, which was supposed to become the resource base for gas for the planned Vladivostok LNG project. According to data from Russia’s energy ministry, exploration carried out at the field by the state-controlled gas giant has unearthed reserves estimated at 464 million metric tons (3.4 billion bbl) of crude oil under Russia’s C1+C2 classification. Russia’s Natural Resources Minister Sergei Donskoi told journalists on Apr. 9 that Rosnedra, the ministry’s subsoil agency, has re- jected an application from Gazprom for permission to formalize the discovery and approve the draft development plan for the field. “We think the development plan can be improved, particularly regarding the crude extraction ratio,” Donskoi said. “The project should become more rational,” the minister added. The Yuzhno-Kirinskoye field was supposed to feed Gazprom’s planned 10 million ton/yr Vladivostok LNG plant, where the first of two equal trains was originally supposed to be launched in 2018. However, a recent eurobond prospectus from Gazprom delays the Yuzhno-Kirinskoye start-up until after 2019 and the field’s peak production to 2023-24, which is understood to be in light of the new oil discovery. Analysts say Gazprom would be forced to delay the Vladivostok LNG plant as well, despite the gas giant’s insistence that all plans are on track (NC Feb.27’14). Russia Falls Short of Flaring Target Russian oil and gas firms increased sive flaring after companies failed to associated gas utilization rates in meet the previous deadline in 2012, 2013, but they have yet to reach the and then planned to increase them official goal of 95%. again in 2014 to spur companies to Russian companies reduced flarinvest more to reach the desired utiliing, which is harmful to the environzation rate (NC Jan.16’14). ment, to 21.2% of associated gas outMost companies have made sigput last year from 23.8% in 2012, acnificant progress and stand a good cording to data released by the energy chance of reaching the target in ministry on Apr. 9. 2015, Renaissance Capital analyst Last December, Natural Resources Ildar Davletshin said, adding that inMinister Sergei stead of imposing Donskoi estimated fines, the authoriAssociated Petroleum Gas Production ties might make the associated gas ProductionUtilization (%) utilization rate at companies reduce (Bcm) 20122013 2012 2013 75.9% for 2013 Rosneft gas flaring by pro20.221.3 66.6 68.7 8.3 9.1 86.687.5 and projected it at Lukoil viding them with 12.212.1 99.2 99.3 86.7% for 2014 Surgutneftegas opportunities to Gazprom Neft 4.2 5.4 65.7 79.5 and 93.7% for Tatneft sell the associated 0.9 0.9 94.593.6 0.4 0.4 75.272.7 2015, which is Bashneft gas on beneficial Slavneft 0.8 0.8 74.576.6 still less than the Russneft terms. Some com1.1 1.2 69.876.6 48.1 51.2 76.7 79.4 95% target con- Total panies have low firmed by the Gazprom utilization rates be1.5 1.3 86.0 93.1 energy ministry Novatek cause they lack the 0.1 0.3 47.193.1 Independent Producers 2.9 3.5 63.5 62.2 for 2015. infrastructure to PSA Operators 2.2 2.3 83.8 90.1 The govern- Russia Total pump the associ54.8 58.6 76.2 78.8 ment introduced ated gas into pipefines for exces- Source: Energy Ministry lines, he said. www.energyintel.com NC page 5 Russia Total Russia Chief Stresses Commitment To Russia with New Shale Plays Total is not going to alter its long-term investment plans in Russia despite the current frictions between Moscow and the West over Ukraine. As evidence of its commitment, the company is expanding in shale oil in Russia. In an exclusive interview with Nefte Compass, Jacques de Boisseson, general director of Total E&P Russie, outlines the company’s plans, from the details of its new joint venture with Lukoil to the status of the “sleeping beauty” Shtokman field, and shares the French major’s views on the development of EURussia relations. Q: Three years ago, when Total was celebrating 20 years in Russia, the company was saying it would be targeting a production level of 18 million-20 million metric tons of hydrocarbons in Russia by 2020. How have the plans changed since then? A: We are still heading towards 20 million tons, which is 400,000 barrels per day, roughly in three to four years’ time. Most of this production comes from our participation in Novatek and the rest from our projects in Russia. So, most of it depends on Novatek’s capacity to grow its production and we will reap the benefits of it. So far, Novatek has met its objectives and we believe that they will continue doing so. Q: Have Total’s Russian plans been impacted by the standoff between Russia and the West over Ukraine? Is there any fear that Total would have to curtail its operations in Russia? A: This has not had any impact on our plans and on our operations. There is always political risk in any country. This is part of the risk that we have taken when we decided to invest. We are here for the long term and we will certainly not change our plans because of short-term issues. Q: So, you are confident in your investment. A: Yes, unless and until things change significantly, I feel confident. Q: What should change “significantly” that would change your position? A: We have decided to invest in Russia for 20, 30, 40, 50 years, so we are still confident that over that period our investment makes sense. What will happen in three months, or in a year or two, and what ups and downs there will be on the way, I don’t know. We are monitoring the situation and will take note of all political and economic changes in Russia. Total’s Russia Interests* Project StakePartner Kharyaga PSA 40% Statoil (30%) Zarubezhneft (20%) Nenets Oil Co. (10%) Yamal LNG 20% Novatek (60%) CNPC (20%) Shtokman 25% Gazprom (75%) Termokarstovoye 49% Novatek (51%) Khvalynskoye 17% Kazmunaigas (25%) GDF (8%) Lukoil (50%) Shale Oil JV 49% Lukoil (51%) * Total also holds 17% in Novatek, which it is to grow to a maximum of 19.4%. Source: Energy Intelligence Q: We know that business in general is not interested in the escalation of the situation. But what happens when politics prevails over economic interests? A: If politicians take sanctions that prevent us legally from investing in Russia, then we will not invest in Russia, if those sanctions are applicable to us. For the time being, it’s business as usual. My sense is that there is too much at stake on all sides for the situation to get to the extreme that I have mentioned. But I don’t know what can actually happen and I don’t want to speculate about that. Again, this is part of the risk we have assessed when we decided to invest here and this is not a decision that will change for short-term reasons. Q: You have decided to invest in shale oil in Russia. What are your plans in this area, including the joint venture you are setting up with Lukoil? www.energyintel.com April 10, 2014 A: We’ve got three blocks from an auction that was conducted in January. The bid took place in January and then there was a process of selection and we received a confirmation in March that we had those three blocks, which are in the Khanty-Mansiysk region. This is part of our strategy to invest in the Bazhenov play of shale oil in Russia that we think has a very big potential, which still needs to be proven though. This will be done by applying our ideas, our technology and our capacity to concrete cases. That is why getting those blocks was so important. Q: Are these licenses going to be part of your joint venture with Lukoil? A: First, we have to finalize our JV with Lukoil. We signed a memorandum of understanding back in December and we are currently negotiating the detailed agreement for the JV, which we hope will be set up in the next few months. We don’t have a fixed timetable for that, but I would say that the talks we are having with Lukoil are progressing well. It will be a 51%-49% division, with Lukoil holding the majority. Q: What will the two sides contribute? A: It will be a combination of what both can contribute. Having exploration for shale hydrocarbons in Argentina, Denmark, Poland and the UK, and setting up others in China and Australia, we will bring our know-how, our technology, our experience in developing similar reserves. Lukoil will bring its capacity to work in Western Siberia. Both sides will contribute licenses, money and their specific expertise. We believe we will make a good combination with Lukoil. We think that putting our forces together is the right mix. Q: Is your partnership model with Lukoil going to be the same as the one that Rosneft has with international companies? A: No, as far as I know, the scheme is not the same. NC page 6 Russia Q: What does Lukoil have that you lack? A: Certainly, it’s their experience in the region. They have demonstrated their capacity to operate in this particular environment, not only the physical environment but also the business environment — I mean the service industry, the contractors, the engineering and drilling companies that they have been working with for many, many years. They are one of the major actors in Russia as a whole and in that region in particular, so this gives us access to a lot of industrial capacity, which is something that will be key in the development of the shale oil. The success of the shale oil and shale gas in the US is due to a number of factors. One of them is certainly the capacity to line up the contractors and the service companies in order to drastically reduce costs, particularly the cost of drilling, and this is one of the key parameters for this kind of development. Lukoil is certainly one of the best partners to mobilize the drilling contractors and the service companies that will be required to make this project profitable. So, here they can bring a lot. Rosneft and others are also capable of lining up all that but Lukoil was keen to work with us. Q: And Rosneft was not? A: Lukoil was keen to work with us. This is very important and we’ve found a fit. And if we’ve found a fit we don’t need to look for someone else. We are very happy with Lukoil. Q: Do you have an estimate how much it could cost? A: That is the key. We think we can do it but we have to demonstrate it, we have to prove it. Nobody has so far proven that this can be produced profitably, this is a challenge. I am not saying we will be successful but at least we will try. And as I said, we need to have the right combination of cost, price, tax, industrial capacity, incentives, etc. Q: At what oil price will the shale play be profitable? A: Our scenarios do not anticipate a significant reduction in the current oil price but the challenge April 10, 2014 is to have costs that make operations profitable given the productivity of the wells. that. Obviously, it will be challenging because building a plant in Yamal is not easy but we can make it. Q: Are the tax breaks given by the government enough to develop shale oil? A: The government has recognized that this needs special treatment to incentivize companies to start this adventure. We clearly require as low taxes as possible in order to make the combination right. Q: Do you foresee any impact on the project from the sanctions placed on Novatek shareholder Gennady Timchenko? US Eximbank has already refused to participate in the financing of Yamal LNG. A: First of all, my understanding is that the US sanctions that apply to Mr. Timchenko only affect the companies which he is a shareholder of with more than 50%, which is not the case with Novatek. So, formally these sanctions do not affect Novatek and Yamal LNG. According to some press reports, US Eximbank is reconsidering its participation in the project due to US sanctions. US Eximbank is government owned. I think it is logical that they are more careful regarding US sanctions. I don’t expect any other export credit agency or financing body or entity to follow the same route. As things stand now and independently of any further moves, I am not expecting the financing of Yamal LNG to be affected. Q: Are the ones that have already been passed enough? A: Not only Total and Lukoil but the whole industry still needs to see how they will be applied and how it will work. What I think is that the government is aware that it needs to play its part and the government has proved in the past that it can be flexible enough to make the development possible. A good example is Yamal LNG. Q: What are your estimates of the potential for shale oil in Russia? A: It’s difficult to make estimates because you can estimate what is in the ground, but how much we will be able to produce of that is anybody’s guess at this stage. Q: How is the Yamal LNG project progressing? What is the targeted date for start-up? Doesn’t 2017 look ambitious? A: It is progressing well and according to plan. The targeted date for the first train start-up is 2017. I know it looks ambitious to many but you have to take into account various factors. First of all, it seemed ambitious to take the final investment decision [FID] in 2013 but we did it because we have a joint venture and we have partners that are able to make quick decisions and make things happen. Second, the FID was not the start of the story. We started making significant investments before the FID in terms of infrastructure, logistic and other facilities, so if you take all this into account then 2017 is much more achievable. Today nothing can make me believe that we cannot do www.energyintel.com Q: What about gas buyers? A: I am not seeing any of our gas buyers uncomfortable today with today’s sanctions. And again, if things stand as they are today, to me it’s not a significant probability that any buyer or any financier will withdraw from Yamal LNG. Q: What are the latest cost estimates for Yamal LNG? How is financing coming along? A: The latest estimate is the one that we announced at FID, which is $27 billion. The idea is to take project financing with a consortium of Russian and international banks and the plan is to negotiate this in the course of 2014 and hopefully to have that ready by the end of the year. We don’t know how much would come from the banks and how much from the shareholders. We will be looking for as much as we can, but this is not only in our hands. Read the interview in full online. NC page 7 April 10, 2014 Russia US Heading for Cold Energy War With Russia Four months ago, Morgan Stanley’s announcement that it would sell key parts of its global oil trading business to state-controlled oil company Rosneft was seen in the US as a sign of growing energy cooperation with Russia. Now, as tensions remain high over Ukraine and the US slaps sanctions on Russia, it is seen as a pact with the enemy. In Washington at least, the deal is politically dead. As reported earlier, Rosneft’s investment must be approved by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), a panel with 14 agencies that screens for national security risks (NC Apr.3’14). CFIUS prides itself on being a factdriven and apolitical entity. Typically, the committee’s Department of Defense hawks are balanced by the doves of the Department of State. In this case, however, even the Department of State is one of Moscow’s most vocal critics. In the five years through 2012, CFIUS dealt with 538 cases where foreigners wanted to buy or buy into US companies. Of these proposed deals, 168 were investigated and 70 were withdrawn. Just one deal met a presidential veto. Ralls Corp., owned by Chinese nationals, was not allowed to buy four wind farm projects. Without spelling it out, national security was a key consideration. “The wind farm sites are all within or in the vicinity of restricted air space at Naval Weapons Systems Training Facility Boardman in Oregon,” says the latest annual CFIUS report to Congress. Russian interest in US companies has been limited. Russian firms bought four US entities in 2010, zero in 2011 and two in 2012. Data for 2013 is not yet available. Of these deals, three were in the financial information and services sectors. Rosneft’s transaction is likely to be the most valuable of recent Russian deals, although the parties haven’t mentioned a price. To boost its global trading business, Rosneft wants to take over some 100 traders from Morgan Stanley in New York, London and Singapore, a global book of supply and storage contracts, and a 49% stake in the US tanker management company Heidmar in Norwalk, Connecticut. This takeover would catapult Rosneft — now mostly dependent on others to market its crude oil and products — into the big league in global oil trading, including the US market, where Morgan Stanley is one of the largest players. A former member of the National Security Council (NSC) who worked with CFIUS argues that national security is not an issue in this deal. “This is a political issue,” he says. Washington is looking to punish Moscow, not to sell it a business. CFIUS, which includes the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense, State and Energy, can look for ways to make this deal go away. “CFIUS can torture (Morgan Stanley and Rosneft) a thousand ways,” the former NSC official notes. Morgan Stanley and Rosneft might decide to rip up the deal. But that is not yet the official line of Morgan Stanley. “We intend to submit the transaction for all necessary regulatory approvals, and are targeting a close in the second half of 2014,” says spokesperson Mark Lane with Morgan Stanley in an email. “We are not making any other public comment.” The maximum time for a full CFIUS procedure is three months, including 15 days at the end if it ends up on President Barack Obama’s desk for a decision. A filing in September could possibly still meet the companies’ timetable. A lot can happen in five www.energyintel.com months. What is unlikely to change is that Rosneft wants to go ahead with the deal and will push for a filing. It would either deliver Rosneft the much-wanted trading business. Or Rosneft could try to collect a termination fee if Morgan Stanley has to pull out, a fee that analysts say is likely built in the preliminary agreement. Or Rosneft could push for a presidential rejection, which could trigger retaliation from Moscow in turn. Moscow is known for its titfor-tat actions. The Kremlin could decide to no longer buy US products, or stop exporting oil to the US. It could also make life difficult for Exxon Mobil, which has many joint ventures with Rosneft — in Sakhalin Island, the Russian Arctic and the US Gulf of Mexico, among others. “Exxon has been quiet lately,” the former NSC member notes wryly. Exxon has a relationship of more than 20 years with Rosneft, and both companies have much riding on their ventures. It might not come to a tit for tat. That Morgan Stanley and Rosneft have not filed yet with CFIUS could mean that “they are either looking for the tensions to dissipate or may be working towards an amicable exit from the deal,” says Reuben Miller, an expert on filings and editor-at-large with Policy and Regulatory Report. If it comes to a filing, a realistic option could well be that CFIUS can convince the companies “to withdraw their filing and walk away from the deal,” Miller notes. “Obama doesn’t want this on his desk and would rather do this through pressure from CFIUS.” Yet, Miller can also foresee that Rosneft wants to take this all the way, and hear the rejection from the president himself. “But if this deal goes through, the president will have zero credibility,” says a broker familiar with the business of Morgan Stanley. “This is the only leverage the US has over the Russians.” John van Schaik, New York NC page 8 April 10, 2014 Finance Gazprom Dividends Rise Despite Ukraine Debt Despite Gazprom boss Alexei Miller’s warnings that Ukraine’s growing gas debt could negatively affect dividend payments, the company intends to pay larger dividends than expected. Gazprom’s management committee recommended on Apr. 7 paying 7.2 rubles ($0.20) per share in 2013 dividends, which is 8% above analysts’ expectations and 20.2% more than it paid for 2012 (NC Apr.3’14). If approved by shareholders on Jun. 27, the natural gas giant will pay 25% of its net profit calculated under Russian Accounting Standards, adjusted for the amount of financial investment revaluation and similar business activities of the company. According to analysts’ calculations, the total payout would be around 628 billion rubles ($17.6 billion). The dividends will rise despite the fact that Miller has repeatedly said in recent weeks that they will be negatively affected by Ukraine’s growing gas bill, which could rise by $5 billion-$6 billion by the end of this year from about $2 billion. Ukraine’s debt would only affect Gazprom’s net profit and dividends if the company creates reserves for bad debts or writes off the debt, Raiffeisen Bank analyst Andrei Polishchuk told Nefte Compass. Rosneft Brings Drilling Back In House As part of its strategy to develop its own drilling business — bucking the general trend in the Russian oil industry — Rosneft has finalized a deal to fully acquire Orenburg Drilling Co. from VTB-Leasing Group. The value of the deal was not disclosed, but according to Uralsib Capital analyst Alexei Kokin, each rig may cost about $20 million. Rosneft reportedly planned to buy 30 rigs from VTB Group, but it is unclear whether all the rigs were owned by Orenburg Drilling. The acquisition of the Orenburg firm is Rosneft’s first major purchase of an oil services company after the company’s boss Igor Sechin said in February it would develop its own drilling business and reduce its operations with services companies, in particular with Eurasia Drilling Co., which now faces a downturn in operations in Russia (NC Feb.27’14) (NC Apr.3’14). Eurasia Drilling was formerly the drilling arm of Lukoil but was hived off in line with an industry trend for majors to focus on their core production activity. Apart from avoiding what it viewed as unreasonably high prices set by contractors, the key reason behind Rosneft’s decision to develop its own drilling business was its dissatisfaction with independent contractors’ insufficient investment into equipment upgrades. The lack of upgrades could make it difficult to provide reliable services for Rosneft’s hard-to-recover oil projects, analysts polled by Nefte Compass say, adding that Rosneft is primarily interested in buying new rigs rather than drilling companies. Despite Rosneft officials’ statements that the company will provide drilling services to third-party customers, the key focus will be to use the rigs for its own production units, at least over the next two or three years, Alfa-Bank analyst Alexander Kornilov said. Equities Share Prices Closing On April 8, 2014 ($/Share) Closing Chg. From——— 12 Months ——– Market Cap Locally Traded Shares Price Apr 1, 2014 High Low ($ mill.) Bashneft 53.90 -0.30 62.6845.3510,573.0 Gazprom 3.74 -0.13 4.34 3.2188,415.0 Lukoil 53.90 -2.17 60.3548.3640,623.0 Rosneft 6.45 -0.15 7.62 5.5668,306.0 Novatek 9.55 -0.51 12.06 7.8331,060.0 Gazprom Neft 3.92 -0.16 4.50 3.58 18,554.0 Surgutneftegas 0.72 -0.02 0.86 0.6631,233.0 Surgutneftegas pref. 0.70 -0.03 0.80 0.60 5,462.8 Tatneft 5.86 0.13 6.37 5.0912,933.0 ADRs Gazprom 7.54-0.23 9.87 6.25 NA Lukoil 53.95 -1.79 66.9547.03 NA Gazprom Neft 19.72 -0.72 23.28 16.61 NA Surgutneftegas 7.29-0.16 9.71 6.90 NA Tatneft 36.00 1.46 42.7930.22 NA Indices RTS 1,195.71 -40.03 1,518.541,062.47 RTS prices are given for companies listed on the exchange. Market capitalization updated weekly. Currencies US Dollar Exchange Rates Former Soviet Union Russian Ruble Armenian Dram Azerbaijani Manat Belarussian Ruble Georgian Lari Kazak Tenge Kyrgyz Som Latvian Lat Lithuanian Lit Moldovan Lei Ukrainian Hryvna Uzbek Som Apr 9’14 35.67 416.50 0.78 9,920.00 1.75 182.07 54.44 0.51 2.50 13.57 12.25 2,277.00 Apr 2’14 35.07 415.00 0.83 9,897.08 1.75 182.15 55.03 0.51 2.50 13.59 11.40 2,287.00 www.energyintel.com Eastern Europe Apr 9’14 Apr 2’14 Albanian Lek 101.70 101.85 Bulgarian Lev 1.42 1.42 Croatian Kuna 5.53 5.54 Czech Koruna 19.88 19.93 Hungarian Forint 221.75 222.82 Macedonian Denar 44.73 44.82 Polish Zloty 3.02 3.03 Romanian Leu 3.23 3.23 Ruble exchange rates US Dollar 35.67 35.07 Euro 48.8648.25 Pound Sterling 59.14 58.36 Japanese Yen 0.35 0.34 NC page 9 April 10, 2014 Caspian/Europe Massimov Makes A Comeback as Kazakh PM In a sign of his disillusionment with the sluggish economy, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has sacked his prime minister, Serikh Akhmetov, and reappointed Karim Massimov, who held the job from 2007-12. Nazarbayev also appointed his eldest daughter, Dariga, as deputy speaker of the Majlis, or lower house of parliament — representing the president’s ruling OTAN party — fueling speculation that she may be further groomed to succeed him. Massimov, who had most recently served as head of Nazarbayev’s chief of staff, will automatically take over as chairman of Samruk-Kazyna, the state holding that owns shares in dozens of companies, including full ownership of oil and gas giant Kazmunaigas (KMG) (NC Oct.18’12). Samruk is in the process of restructuring KMG and other subsidiaries and, as part of this process, recently appointed an experienced oilman, Christopher Hopkinson, who worked for several years at BG, as KMG’s first deputy chairman. The 73-year old Nazarbayev has so far given no indication he is ready to hand over power or pick a successor. But the promotion of Dariga, who has kept a low profile since her ex-husband Rakhat Aliyev, now living in exile in Europe, was convicted in absentia in 2007 on multiple charges including kidnapping and extortion. gotiations on the proposed barter deal were “intensifying,” although he would not say when an agreement would be finalized. The mechanics of the arrangement remain sketchy. Javadi said Iran could supply some of its crude oil from the Neka terminal on the Caspian Sea, but industry sources say this would be impractical, as the terminal is configured only to receive crude from the Caspian, and not for transshipment. Another question is whether Russian state companies would be authorized to buy the Iranian crude. Rosneft is unlikely to get involved as it is US-listed and would be automatically hit with sanctions. The most likely scenario, industry sources say, is that Moscow would nominate a state entity that has no US or European assets to handle the shipments. Belarus Commences Drilling for Shale Belorusneft, a state-owned vertically integrated company, has announced the start of drilling for shale oil in the Rechitsa region in the southern part of Belarus. The company said in an Apr. 4 statement that it had begun drilling its first horizontal well, after which it will begin multistage hydraulic fracturing. The well is in the Rechitsa field where first oil was produced in Belarus a half-century ago. “It is believed that there could be reserves of so-called shale oil here, which to this point had been inaccessible to Belarusian oilmen,” the company said. Last year Belorusneft reportedly created a joint venture with UK group Toros for the exploration and production of nonconventionals in Belarus. Acreage under sur- Kazakh Refining Dives in February Crude oil refining at Kazakhstan’s three refineries in February slumped 10% compared to January, finishing the month at 1.04 million metric tons (274,000 b/d). Compared to the same month a year ago, processing was down 6% (table). Activity was down on both a monthly and an annual basis, with the Pavlodar facility suffering an 11.6% fall in monthly output compared to February 2013. Output was also down across the four core segments — fuel oil, gasoil, gasoline and jet fuel — with gasoline output declining nearly 9% in February year-on-year. Oil and Gas Minister Uzakbai Karabalin was quoted in Kazakh media on Apr. 7 as saying that the country was struggling with upgrading its refining capacities, which will cost the budget at least $1 billion/refinery. He said the 2016 deadline for Euro-4 and Euro-5 production targets might have to be postponed. Kazakh Refinery Activity, February 2014 US Threatens Iran Over Russia Deal US lawmakers are urging President Barack Obama to re-impose all sanctions on Iran if it goes ahead with a planned multi-billion-dollar counter-trade deal with Russia under which the Russians would supply a range of goods to Iran in exchange for up to 500,000 b/d of Iranian crude oil (NC Mar.20’14). The head of National Iranian Oil Co., Rokneddin Javadi, was quoted as saying this week that ne- Processing (‘000 metric tons — Year To Date — — Feb — — Jan — –— Chg.* —– or ‘000 b/d) b/d tons b/d tons b/d tons b/dtons Pavlodar 98.8 795.5 97.7 373.2 99.8 422.3 -2.2-49.1 PetroKazakhstan Oil Products 81.4 655.6 82.1 313.5 80.9 342.0 1.2 -28.5 Atyrau 94.5 760.3 94.2 360.0 94.6 400.3 -0.4-40.3 Total 274.72,211.3 274.0 1,046.7 275.4 1,164.6 -1.3-117.8 February Output — Mazut — –— Gasoil —– –— Gasoline —– –– Jet Fuel –– b/d tons b/d tons b/d tons b/dtons Pavlodar 18.276.8 26.198.2 28.794.5 1.55.1 PetroKazakhstan Oil Products 15.2 63.9 21.3 79.8 20.2 66.4 5.2 18.1 Atyrau 31.6133.3 23.5 88.0 14.7 48.3 0.4 1.4 Total 65.0274.0 70.9266.0 63.6209.2 7.024.6 * Change from previous month. Notes: Table is based on the following factors for conversion to barrels: Crude - 7.33; Mazut - 6.64; Gasoil - 7.46; Gasoline - 8.51; Jet Fuel - 8.00. Data for the previous month were revised. www.energyintel.com NC page 10 April 10, 2014 Caspian/Europe vey is around 580 sq km, lying to the north of the border with Ukraine. According to reports, Belorusneft was to be responsible for vertical drilling, while Toros would carry out the horizontal drilling and fracking. Belarus could contain some 1 billion metric tons of shale oil, according to the US Geological Survey. Crude production at Gomelbased Belarusneft has stagnated over the past decade at about 1.65 million tons/yr, and the company is undertaking efforts to boost output both at home and abroad. Belarusneft also produces crude in Russia and Venezuela and has a subsidiary in Ecuador, where it is carrying out seismic studies. Pro-Russia Party Wins Big in Hungary The right-wing Fidesz party scored a resounding victory in parliamentary elections on Apr. 6, giving Prime Minister Viktor Orban the mandate to forge ahead with reforms that have called into question the Central European country’s democratic credentials. Although Fidesz mustered merely 44.5% of the party-list vote, thanks to the election law it controversially amended this could give it up to 66% of parliamentary seats in the 199-member legislature, depending on the results of several single-mandate districts that will be determined later this week. If Fidesz does win in one of these races, it will obtain the parliamentary supermajority that will allow it to ram through more economic reforms. In terms of energy, the government will continue cutting consumer prices for heating and electricity and effectively transform utilities into nonprofit businesses, analysts said. Speaking to journalists on Apr. 8, National Development Minister Zsuzsanna Nemeth said that lower energy prices were essential for strengthening the competitiveness of Hungarian firms. Nemeth also said that the state will continue its program of buying back stakes in strategically important energy companies. Although highly critical of Russia as early as a decade ago, Orban has become a key ally of Moscow in the EU (NC Feb.20’14). During a visit to Russia in January, he won a reduction in natural gas prices — Hungary consumed about 6 Bcm last year — and, in a deal worth over $10 billion, a pledge to finance up to 80% of the construction of two new nuclear reactors at Paks that, in the words of Fidesz officials, will guarantee Hungary a cheap source of energy for up to 60 years. Gazprom ‘Blocks’ Ukraine Reverse Flow Deal Ukraine’s increasingly desperate efforts to make progress on a possible deal to use Slovakia’s natural gas pipeline for reverse deliveries have so far failed despite a direct appeal to EU officials. Energy Minister Yuri Prodan was quoted in Ukrainian media as saying that talks in Brussels with Slovakian and EU officials revealed what many had feared — that Slovakia’s pipeline operator, Eustream, has contractual obligations to Gazprom that prevent it from agreeing on reverse gas supplies to Ukraine. “The meeting with Slovakian representatives showed that the issue isn’t technical but more tied More Woe in Store for Kashagan Kazakhstan’s giant Kashagan oil field may not come back on stream until next year, or possibly even later, if the international consortium in charge of the project has to replace an offshore pipeline that sprang a gas leak last September, forcing early oil production to be suspended just days after it had started (NC Apr.3’14). Kazakhstan’s Oil Minister Uzakbai Karabalin, who gave an update on the project this week to the Majlis, or lower house of Parliament, told reporters that there were indications that the pipeline apparently had “microcracks” that would take considerable time to repair and thus push back the date for production restart even further. “If they really are there, this would lengthen the duration of previously planned work,” he said, but cautioned that it was “impossible to say anything” until the North Caspian Operating Co. (NCOC) finished testing the pipeline system in May. He said tests were made more difficult by ice melting in the shallow waters of the North Caspian. NCOC would not comment on reports that the damage to the offshore pipeline network is so bad that www.energyintel.com it would need to replaced, delaying the resumption of early oil to 201617. The consortium has identified the problem as “stress cracking” caused by the presence of hydrogen sulfide mingled with water, but it has given no indication so far on how long repairs would take. Karabalin said the companies had come up with “various scenarios” as to when production might restart. The best-case scenario involved damage only to the onshore pipeline, which could be fixed relatively easily and have oil back on stream “probably” by the end of the year. He did not say what the worstcase scenario involved. Kashagan was due to come on at an initial rate of around 60,000 b/d, ramping up to an initial plateau of 370,000 b/d before rising in a second phase toward 1 million b/d. The outlook for NCOC, which until output resumes has to recover all its own costs, could get even worse if the government upholds a $739 million claim slapped on the consortium last month by the Ministry of Environmental Protection for flaring more gas than allowed (NC Mar.27’14). NCOC says it will appeal the fine vigorously. NC page 11 April 10, 2014 Europe to agreements with Gazprom,” Prodan was quoted by the Unian agency as saying. “We were told that the existing agreements won’t entirely allow reverse flow.” A Eustream official was quoted by Reuters as saying that for reverse deliveries to work, Gazprom’s approval is necessary, and since Gazprom is against west to east supplies in the pipeline system it uses, “it is not an option.” However, when contacted by Nefte Compass about this report, Eustream refused to comment. “Eustream is a fully competent company with absolute control over all gas transmission operations on Slovak territory. So we cannot confirm the information that Eustream would need any kind of permission [from Gazprom] for reverse flow to Ukraine,” spokesman Vahram Chuguryan wrote in an email response on Apr. 9 (NC Apr.3’14). “Negotiations with the Ukrainian side are continuing in accordance with the agreed schedule [and] partners from Ukrtransgaz have accepted Eustream’s invitation to visit Bratislava for a working meeting during the coming week.” Ukrtransgaz is Ukraine’s gas pipeline operator. Ukrainian obser vers have claimed for months that Gazprom is hindering a reverse flow deal, which could potentially provide up to 12 billion cubic meters of gas for Ukraine — or about one-fourth of annual consumption (NC Mar.6’14). Analysts say that the capacity of the four pipelines connecting the two countries is only 40% occupied, which would easily allow Eustream to use one for reverse deliveries. Eustream told Nefte Compass that its contract with Gazprom is until 2028, and Ukrainian analysts claim the Russian gas giant has paid for capacity it doesn’t use to ensure that reverse flow cannot be used. In addition, on Mar. 28 Slovakian gas company SPP announced it had signed a new price deal with Gazprom that includes a discount. SPP refused to share details, but reports in Slovakian and Ukrainian media indicate that the new price was even backdated, which granted the Slovakians $200 million in cash. Ukrainian analysts slammed the deal as a “bribe.” Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has previously expressed reservations about reverse flows, saying he doubted the Ukrainians’ ability to pay and that Slovakia didn’t have the funds to make the necessary infrastructure invest- ments. Analysts say the two countries would have to build a several-kilometer long looping on the border, priced at about 20 million, to facilitate westeast deliveries. Gazprom Chief Executive Alexei Miller said on Apr. 5 that reverse deals are likely illegal, while others have argued that once the gas is on EU territory it can be piped in any direction. Russia May Ask Kiev to Prepay for Gas Russia could force Ukraine to prepay for natural gas deliveries if Kiev does not cancel its gas debt of $2.23 billion to Gazprom. Government ministers told President Vladimir Putin on Apr. 9 that Russia had the basis to switch to a prepayment system, but Putin asked them to wait and see if talks with the West and Ukraine, scheduled for next week, could break the gridlock. He said that prepayment was a legitimate contractual stipulation that would be used if the debt issue was not resolved. Officials in Kiev, meanwhile, said on Apr. 9 that Ukraine would cancel the outstanding gas bill once there was clarity on the new gas price. Over the weekend Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told government ministers that Ukraine would not pay Russia’s new price of $485.50 per thousand cubic meters and that the price agreed on in December and paid during the first quarter, $268.50/Mcm, was acceptable (NC Apr.3’14). Interestingly, Energy Minister Yuri Prodan said that for now Ukraine had stopped buying Russian gas and suggested there was sufficient time to replenish www.energyintel.com underground reservoirs before the next heating season. Ukrainian leaders are hoping to convince Moscow to buy a new $2 billion eurobond issue that had been prepared in February but later cancelled due to the political instability (NC Mar.6’14). Kiev said it would use those funds to pay the outstanding gas debt. It is far from certain, however, that Moscow will be willing to dip into its coffers to bail out a government it does not acknowledge — all the more if Kiev refuses to accept the new gas price. Further complicating matters is a disagreement over the debt figure. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev told Putin that Ukraine’s total debt is actually $16.6 billion, consisting of $2.2 billion for gas, $3 billion for the December eurobond purchase, and $11.4 billion for “unrealized profit” for previous gas sales. The last number apparently takes into account four years of discounted gas deliveries Ukraine received in exchange for allowing Russia to house its Black Sea fleet in Crimea. NC page 12 April 10, 2014 Russia Russian Crude Oil Exports to Non-CIS Markets, March 2014 Bosnia & China Mar Feb Mar Total (‘000 metric tons) Novo Primorsk Ust-LugaKozmino Germany PolandCzechSlovakia Hungary HerzegovinaChina (Skovorodino)TotalTotal (‘000 b/d) GRAND TOTAL* 3,150 3,8071,634 1,9991,4721,539 230 440 419 18 595 1,312 16,792 15,527 3,970 TOTAL FOR RUSSIA* 2,397 3,607 1,000 1,999 1,334 1,539 230 440 419 18 595 1,312 15,066 13,827 3,562 Lukoil 674 6790 10000072 1090 0 0 1,634 1,500 386 Lukoil-AIK 95 - - - - - - 18 20 - - - 132 130 31 Ritek 219 -- ----28-- - -247 194 58 Lukoil-Perm - - - - - - - 20 20 - - - 40 60 9 Lukoil-Nizhnevolzhskneft 129 -- ---- --- - -129 116 31 Tursunt - - - - - - - 5 1 - - - 6 5 1 Lukoil-West Siberia 232 130 - 100 - - - 1 68 - - - 531 555 126 Lukoil-Komi - 548- ---- --- - -548 438 130 Rosneft 719 1,484600 613989 1,108170 0 0 0 5951,312 7,588 7,080 1,794 NK Rosneft 719 1,484600 613989 1,108170 0 0 0 595 807 7,083 6,610 1,675 NK Rosneft 469 1,257 204 - 385 1,048 - - - - 595 - 3,957 4,046 936 Verkhnechonskneftegas - -- 613--- --- - -613 690 145 Uvatneftegas - - 156 - - - - - - - - - 156 0 37 Samotlorneftegas 80 -- ---- --- - - 80 204 19 Orenburgneft - - 240 - - - 170 - - - - - 410 0 97 Udmurtneft - 228- ---- --- - -228 206 54 Samaraneftegas 70 - - - 604 60 - - - - - - 734 667 173 Vankorneft 100 -- ---- --- -807907 717 214 Transneft - -- ---- --- -505505 470 119 Vankorneft - -- ---- --- -505505 470 119 Surgutneftegas 0 600400 632327306 0 0 0 0 0 0 2,264 2,102 535 Russneft 80 400 0000 13800 0 0258 269 61 Mokhtikneft - -- ----20-- - - 20 20 5 Varyoganneft 21 13- ---- --- - - 34 21 8 Aki-Otyr - -- ----50-- - - 50 30 12 Goloil - -- ----18-- - - 18 9 4 Nefterazvedka - -- ---- 1-- - - 1 0.5 0.1 Aganneftegasgeologia- 27- ----10-- - - 37 95 9 Ulyanovskneft - -- ----39-- - - 39 34 9 White Nights 59 - - - - - - - - - - - 59 59 14 Slavneft 20 00 0000 000 0 0 20 44 5 Gazprom Neft 20 -- ---- --- - - 20 44 5 Slavneft-Nizhnevartovsk 20 -- ---- --- - - 20 44 5 Gazprom Neft 280 00790060 000 0 0419 254 99 Gazprom Neft-NNG 159 - - - - - - - - - - - 159 0 38 Gazprom Neft-Khantos 121 - - - - - 60 - - - - - 181 206 43 Tomskgazprom - --47--- --- - - 47 42 11 Gazprom Neft-Vostok - - - 32 - - - - - - - - 32 5 8 Tatneft 280 640 00 1250 115 1440 0 0728 674 172 Bashneft 271 002000085 1030 0 0479 363 113 Neftisa 0 1670 000022120 0 0202 198 48 Udmurt Oil Co. - 20 - - - - - - - - - - 20 18 5 Belkamneft - 64- ---- --- - - 64 70 15 Regional Oil Consortium - 38 - - - - - - - - - - 38 37 9 Komnedra - 9- ---- --- - - 9 8 2 YurskNeft - -- ----22-- - - 22 20 5 CanBaikal Resources - 11 - - - - - - - - - - 11 10 3 Samarainvestneft - - - - - - - - 12 - - - 12 12 3 Sibintek - 9- ---- --- - - 9 8 2 Udmurt National Oil Co. - 4 - - - - - - - - - - 4 3 1 Reshetnikovskaya Oil Co. - 1 - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.2 Ryabovskoye - 6- ---- --- - - 6 5 1 Uralskaya Neft - 1 - - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.2 Okunevskoye - 1- ---- --- - - 1 1 0.3 Udmurtgeologia - 4- ---- --- - - 4 4 1 Irkutskaya Oil Co. 0 00 208000 000 0 0208 174 49 INK - -- 206--- --- - -206 171 49 www.energyintel.com NC page 13 April 10, 2014 Russia Russian Crude Oil Exports to Non-CIS Markets, March 2014 (cont.) Bosnia & China Mar Feb Mar Total (‘000 metric tons) Novo Primorsk Ust-LugaKozmino Germany PolandCzechSlovakia Hungary HerzegovinaChina (Skovorodino)TotalTotal (‘000 b/d) INK-NefteGasGeologia- -- 2--- --- - - 2 3 0.4 Yukola-Neft 0 00 0300 00 11 0 0 14 17 3 Yukola-Neft - -- ---- -- 11 - - 11 11 3 Povolzhskneft - - - - 3 - - - - - - - 3 6 1 Other Companies 73 573 034815 0 0 8517 0 01,077 989 255 Aloil 10 -- ---- --- - - 10 22 2 Allianceneftegas - --13--- --- - - 13 12 3 Bental - -- ---- - 0.4- - - 0.4 1 0.1 Bitex - -- ---- - 29- - - 29 12 7 Blagodarov-Oil - 4- ---- --- - - 4 4 1 Carbon-Oil 1 -- ---- --- - - 1 1 0.3 Dinyu - 1- ---- --- - - 1 1 0.2 Dulisma - --81--- --- - - 81 48 19 East Transnational Co. - --10--- --- - - 10 5 2 Geologia - 13- ---- --- - - 13 12 3 Geological Exploration Center - 4- ---- --- - - 4 3 1 Geotex - 2- ---- --- - - 2 7 0.5 Ideloil - 7- ---- --- - - 7 6 2 Inga - 5- ---- --- - - 5 5 1 Kara-Altyn - 15- ---- --- - - 15 19 3 Khit-R - -- ---- -4- - - 4 8 1 Kolvaneft - 27- ---- --- - - 27 30 6 Kondurchaneft - 2- ---- --- - - 2 2 1 Kosyuneft - 2- ---- --- - - 2 2 0.5 Makoil - -- ---- --1 - - 1 1 0.1 Mellyaneft - -- ---- --2 - - 2 5 1 Neftus - 10- ---- --- - - 10 9 2 Nizhneomrinskaya Neft- 0.1- ---- --- - - 0.1 1 0.03 Nord Imperial - -- 1--- --- - - 1 1 0.3 Novatek-Tarkosaleneftegas - -- ---- 6-- - - 6 38 1 Okhtin-Oil - 7- ---- --- - - 7 7 2 Orenburgnefteotdacha - -- ---- --3 - - 3 2 1 Pechoraneft - 25- ---- --- - - 25 28 6 Pechoraneftegas - 7- ---- --- - - 7 7 2 Polar Lights - 15- ---- --- - - 15 13 3 Purneft - 4- ---- --- - - 4 0 1 Region-Neft - -- -3-- --- - - 3 2 1 Reimpex-Samara-Neftepromysel 2 -- ---- --- - - 2 0 0.4 Rusvietpetro - 156- ---- --- - -156 206 37 Sadacoil - -- ---- -1- - - 1 1 0.2 Salym Petroleum - 100- ---- --- - -100 0 24 Selengushneft - 0- ---- --- - - 0.4 0.3 0.1 Sheshmaoil - 11- ---- --- - - 11 16 3 Sial - 3- ---- --- - - 3 3 1 Sorovskneft - -- - 10-- --- - - 10 23 2 Taas-Yuryakh-Neftegasdobycha - --55--- --- - - 55 59 13 Tatex - -- ---- - 17- - - 17 15 4 Tatnefteprom 10 -- ---- --- - - 10 9 2 Tatnefteprom-Zyuzyeyevneft - 12- ---- --- - - 12 11 3 Tatneft-Geologia - 13- ---- --- - - 13 12 3 Tatneft-Samara 11 -- ---- --- - - 11 11 3 Tatoilgas 16 -- ---- --- - - 16 13 4 Terrigen 2 -- ---- --- - - 2 0 0.5 TNS-Razvitiye 3 -- ---- 3-- - - 5 2 1 Total - 125- ---- --- - -125 131 30 Troitskneft 9 -- ---- --- - - 9 8 2 TsNPSEI - 1- ---- --- - - 1 1 0.1 Ulyanovskneftegas - -- ---- --2 - - 2 2 0.4 UNK-Perm - -- -3-- --- - - 3 2 1 Vinka 5 -- ---- --- - - 5 0 1 VUMN 5 -- ---- --- - - 5 13 1 Welloil - 0.1- ---- --- - - 0.1 0.1 0.03 Yambuloil 0.3 -- ---- --- - - 0.3 1 0.1 Yelabuganeft - 1- ---- --- - - 1 1 0.1 Gazprom Neft - -- 188--- --- - -188 95 44 Tomskneft - - - 188 - - - - - - - - 188 95 44 Transit via Russia 753 200 634 0000 000 0 0 1,588 1,575 375 Kazakhstan 608 200 634 0000 000 0 0 1,442 1,486 341 www.energyintel.com NC page 14 April 10, 2014 Russia Russian Crude Oil Exports to Non-CIS Markets, March 2014 (cont.) Bosnia & China Mar Feb Mar Total (‘000 metric tons) Novo Primorsk Ust-LugaKozmino Germany PolandCzechSlovakia Hungary HerzegovinaChina (Skovorodino)TotalTotal (‘000 b/d) Altius Petroleum - - 22 - - - - - - - - - 22 10 5 Anaco - - 7 - - - - - - - - - 7 8 2 Arman 5 -- ---- --- - - 5 5 1 Atyraumunai - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.4 Caspian neft 55 - - - - - - - - - - - 55 47 13 CNPC International 48 - 16 - - - - - - - - - 64 79 15 CNPC-Aktobemunaigas 51 - 20 - - - - - - - - - 71 104 17 Embamunaigas 142 -- ---- --- - -142 140 34 Embavedoil - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.2 Gyural - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.2 Karachaganak Petroleum - - 80 - - - - - - - - - 80 75 19 Karakudukmunai - - 63 - - - - - - - - - 63 46 15 Karazhanbasmunai 60 64 12 - - - - - - - - - 137 166 32 Kazakhturkmunai - - 18 - - - - - - - - - 18 17 4 KazMunaiTeniz 8 -- ---- --- - - 8 20 2 Ken-Sary - - 8 - - - - - - - - - 8 7 2 KhazarMunai - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.2 KMK Munai - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.2 Kommunai - - 17 - - - - - - - - - 17 15 4 Kozhan - 5- ---- --- - - 5 5 1 Lines Jump - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.1 Maersk Oil Co. - - 21 - - - - - - - - - 21 21 5 Mangistaumunaigas 29 100 294 - - - - - - - - - 422 364 100 Meerbusch - - 5 - - - - - - - - - 5 6 1 Nelson Petroleum Buzachi 48 - 16 - - - - - - - - - 64 79 15 Phiztekh Firm 5 - - - - - - - - - - - 5 9 1 Potential Oil - 10 1 - - - - - - - - - 11 9 3 Precaspian Petroleum - 2 - - - - - - - - - - 2 2 0.5 Sagiz Petroleum - 12 - - - - - - - - - - 12 13 3 Saigak Kazakhstan - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 2 0.1 Samek International - - 8 - - - - - - - - - 8 8 2 Sazankurak - 6- ---- --- - - 6 6 1 Svetland-oil - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.4 Tabynai - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.4 Tandai Petroleum - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.1 Tasbolat Oil Corp. - - 13 - - - - - - - - - 13 12 3 Tenge - - 2 - - - - - - - - - 2 2 1 Tobearal Oil - - 1 - - - - - - - - - 1 1 0.2 Uzenmunaigas 155 -- ---- --- - -155 185 37 Zhalgiztobemunai 3 -- ---- --- - - 3 5 1 Azerbaijan 85 00 0000 000 0 0 85 85 20 Socar 85 -- ---- --- - - 85 85 20 Turkmenistan 61 00 0000 000 0 0 61 5 14 Mitro International 24 - - - - - - - - - - - 24 0 6 Burren Resources Petroleum 37 - - - - - - - - - - - 37 5 9 Transit outside Russia 0 00 0000 00 18 0 0 18 61 4 Belarus 0 00 0 13800 000 0 0138 125 33 Belarusneft - - - - 138 - - - - - - - 138 125 33 Rail Shipments 0 00 0000 000 0 0 0 0 0 CPC 0 00 0000 000 0 0177 164 42 Notes: Crude exports via Transneft pipeline system. *Total for Russia includes all categories except transit via Russia, transit outside Russia and Belarus. Grand Total includes total for Russia, transit via Russia, Belarus. Crude Oil Exports Bypassing the Transneft Pipeline System, March 2014 MarFeb By Sea Total forBy Rail Total for CPC Total for Total for (‘000 metric tons) De Kastri Sakhalin Kaliningrad Varandei Exports by Sea Kazakhstan Belarus Exports by Rail (Caucasus) Sea/Rail/CPC Sea/Rail/CPC Rosneft 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.026.8 26.8 259.8 286.6 287.5 Gazprom Neft 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 21.7 21.7 0.0 21.7 15.3 Lukoil 0.0 0.0 82.8 430.8513.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 513.6 547.0 Novatek 0.00.0 0.0 0.00.0 0.00.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 PSA Operators 756.1 480.9 0.0 0.0 1,237.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1,237.0 940.9 Other Producers 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.9 10.0 14.9 0.0 14.9 4.5 Grand Total for Exports 756.1 480.9 82.8 430.8 1,750.6 4.9 58.5 63.4 259.8 2,073.8 1,795.2 www.energyintel.com NC page 15 April 10, 2014 Markets Crude Oil — Brent Ignores Ukraine Clashes Brent futures picked up and resumed trading in their $105-$110/bbl trading range in recent days. Traders are at a loss to explain the bullishness. They dismiss claims that Brent is adding steam on renewed supply fears in response to clashes in eastern Ukraine. The strength of the flat price belies a well-supplied market. Yet a possible supply overhang is reflected in the price structure of the forward curve, with both Brent futures and the physical Brent market flirting with contango, where prompt crude trades at a discount versus later supplies. The flat oil price might again be supported by financial players who see the lower economic growth outlook from the International Monetary Fund as a signal that central banks will keep cheap money flowing. In the real world, though, lower economic growth will hurt oil demand growth, but for now that is not the worry of traders looking at parking cheap money in oil futures. Slower growth of consumer demand for refined products comes as supply of crude oil remains high, especially for sweeter grades of oil. PVM Brokerage suggests that “contango will become a regular feature of the Brent market” if more oil comes to the market from Libya and “if Russian developments do not escalate to the levels where energy supplies is perceived as an issue.” If markets become really sloppy, the physical market might pull down the flat price of oil. It might come with a delay, as refiners are returning Products — Russian Imports to the Rescue European diesel cargo premiums hit new heights late last week before a wave of Russian short-haul imports came to the market’s rescue. French major Total was forced to pay up to a $40/metric ton premium to front-month April ICE gasoil futures for two cargoes of French summer grade diesel into France on Apr. 3 — twice what it would have paid in early March. Total has bought almost 200,000 tons of summer grade French diesel in Platts’ price-setting market-onclose window since mid-March. The company has been struggling to balance its massive system during peak European refinery turnarounds and in the midst of an import drought. Premiums fell sharply this week af- ter fresh Russian and US barrels came onto the market. Total went on to buy two Russian-origin cargoes from traders Gunvor and Litasco on Apr. 7 and Apr. 8 at only a $27/ton premium to April and a $25/ton premium to second-month May ICE gasoil futures, respectively. Russian diesel traffic is expected to nudge 1 million tons this month, when US flows are also set to jump by onethird to 1.2 million-1.4 million tons. Traders point out that rising Russian diesel exports are at the expense of higher-sulfur gasoil exports, which have barely been missed during the recent mild winter. Latest government figures show heating oil demand in Europe’s Marketplace 1-Month View Urals c.i.f. Med vs. Dated Brent 2.50 2.00 1.00 0.00 -2.00 -1.00 -2.00 -3.50 May 23 Jul 19 Sep 14 Nov 10 Jan 6 Mar 4 0.1% Gasoil NWE $/metric ton 1150 -3.00 05.03 12.03 19.03 26.03 02.04 09.04 1005 960 850 915 700 870 550 825 May 23 Jul 19 Sep 14 Nov 10 Jan 6 Mar 4 780 05.03 12.03 19.03 26.03 $/barrel f.o.b. terminal, or c.i.f. destination Apr 9’14 Apr 2’14 Chg. Dated Brent f.o.b. (38 API) 107.48 103.30 4.18 Russian Urals c.i.f. NWE (33 API)* 106.18 103.02 3.16 UK Flotta (38 API) 105.88 102.47 3.41 † Russian Urals c.i.f. Med (33 API) 107.13 103.523.61 Saharan Blend (46 API) 107.73 103.30 4.43 Siberian Light c.i.f. Med (36 API)† 108.36 104.873.49 † CPC Blend c.i.f. Med (47 API) 107.13 102.574.56 *Basis Rotterdam. †Basis Augusta. Product Prices 0.1% Gasoil NWE $/metric ton 1050 1000 400 Mar 27 Urals c.i.f. Med vs. Dated Brent $ 1.00 -0.50 -5.00 Mar 27 main German, French, Swiss and Belgian markets down 25% versus last year in January and February. That could change next year when ships traveling through the region’s emissions control area will have to burn 0.1% sulfur gasoil instead of the current 1% sulfur fuel oil bunkers. Regional bunker heavyweight Royal Dutch Shell recently spoke out about the even greater market chaos from 2020-25 when the global bunker fuel market will have to switch from the current high-sulfur fuel oil to 0.5% sulfur maximum fuel. Shell says that will have to be marine diesel, dismissing shipping industry claims that up to a quarter of the world’s fleet could be powered by LNG by then. Spot Crude Oil Prices 12-Month View $/bbl from maintenance and demanding more crude. And they will need to run some time at higher levels to replenish low refined product inventories. But if consumers then buy fewer oil products than expected, refinery margins will tank and the crude surplus will once again rise. Some signals are confusing. In a note, Citibank says that a lower North Sea loading program for May “sounds like bullishness into May, yet Brent spreads over the last four years have actually bottomed out in May or June.” Citi points out that Forties crude, the price setter for dated Brent, remains trapped in the North Sea in those months as its Hound Point jetty is undergoing maintenance, and that will further depress Brent. 02.04 09.04 www.energyintel.com $/ton, c.i.f. basis Apr 9’14 Apr 2’14 ICE Gasoil Futures (front month) 904.00 876.50 0.1% Gasoil NWE 909.00 882.50 0.1% Gasoil Med 910.50 883.25 10 ppm Diesel NWE 934.00 915.50 M-100 Cracked NWE 578.00 570.00 ICE Gasoil Futures (second month) 904.50 877.25 Chg. 27.50 26.50 27.25 18.50 8.00 27.25
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