The Lisichansk refinery, controlled by Anglo-Russian oil producer TNK-BP, has attracted interest from a number of buyers, one of the company's major shareholders, German Khan, told reporters Wednesday.
TNK-BP, half-owned by BP, has long been struggling to improve margins at the refinery, asking the Ukrainian government to impose import tariffs or quotas on fuel to help boost its profitability.
The company halted production at the plant, which yielded output of 140,000 barrels per day, in March.
"We are in discussions to sell the Lisichansk refinery. There are some offers. We are in talks" said Khan, who is also TNK-BP's executive director.
In July, officials of the Lugansk region, where the refinery is located, said Ukrainian magnate Dmytro Firtash was involved in talks about the Lisichansk plant.
Meanwhile, TNK-BP's executive vice president for strategy and development, Mikhail Slobodin, said at a meeting for suppliers and contractors that the company intends to expand its international presence after 2015.
"Our international diversification is aimed at developing the resource base," he said. "Starting in 2015, we intend to expand the geography of our international presence and become stronger in countries in which the company currently works. After 2018, there are plans to further diversify our global presence."
TNK-BP entered the international market last year, commencing operations in Venezuela and Vietnam. It also joined a project in Brazil.
(Reuters, MT)
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.