«Сумма» выплывает из России

22 august 2011
Vedomosti, 22.08.2011
Alexey Nepomnyashiy

“Summa”s intentions of building the terminal at Rotterdam’s port in consortium with partners were first reported by Interfax citing it’s own sources. This refers to port’s tender for construction and maintenance of new Tank Terminal Europoort West, announced earlier this year. According to official Port of Rotterdam website, the project suggests construction from grounds up at two sites with overall size of 55 hectares. The terminal should take a significant role in the worldwide flow of crude oil, most of throughput should be exported, and oil transshipment also should be available. Initial proposals were submitted before July, 22.Details of the bidders or date of results to be published were not revealed by port’s administration.

Anyway, “Summa” official confirmed that Group’s bid is in place. The company submitted it in consortium with Vitol - largest commodity trader with turnaround of $195 billion, sources with the knowledge of the deal told Vedomosti. According to tender rules, the bidder should not only operate at least one oil terminal, but also should have an oil delivery business to guarantee new project capacity utilization. There is a third partner, says the source, declining to give more details. Vitol left Vedomosti’s call without answer.

Port of Rotterdam should decide on investor this year, there’s less than 10 bids submitted, says the source with the knowledge of the consortium plans.

“Summa” is already co-owner of Russia’s largest port holding structure – NMTP (it’s joint company with Transneft controls Port of Novorossiysk). NMTP also owns Primorsk trade port. These ports together give 75% of oil export through European harbors of Russia. Last year overall oil transfer through these hubs reached 133 million tons.

New Rotterdam’s terminal should be comparable with such one at Primorsk, says the source. Russian port capacity – up to 80 million tons of oil cargo, of which 75 million tons available only for crude oil. Before be bought by NMTP in 2010, Primorsk trade port valued at $2.2 bln.

Terminal construction at Rotterdam’s port could take minimum $250 mln of investments. The main advantage is the existence of infrastructure, says Infranews CEO Alexey Bezborodov. In addition, transshipment amount should be stable.

“Summa”'s idea is in creation of “floating pipeline” between Primorsk port and new Rotterdam’s terminal, adds the source with the knowledge of the consortium plans. Now most of the oil from Primorsk already flows to Rotterdam, but new terminal should create a hub for trade of Russian oil Urals, open for all traders and oil companies, says Vedomosti’s source.