OREANDA-NEWS.  March 12, 2013. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) signed Commercial Practices with “Gazprom Neft” OJSC for sales of gasoline, diesel fuel and aviation fuel on the wholesale markets of the Russian Federation. The Rules of Commercial Practices for selling oil products on the wholesale markets of the Russian Federation establish the principles, conditions, methods, and areas of sales of the oil products of “Gazprom Neft” OJSC, the qualifying requirements for the buyers and contain the main information about the pricing procedures, logistical capacity of supplies, and the procedures for concluding the contracts for buying-and-selling (supplying) oil products.

It is expected that in 2013 “Gazprom Neft” OJSC will move to the new sales practices and expand the network of its branches.

“Commercial practices also reflect FAS’ aspiration to form structural pre-conditions for developing competitive oil products market, and desire of “Gazprom Neft” OJSC to enhance efficiency of corporate governance. The results of introducing Commercial Practices will be division of sales activities in the field of gasoline and diesel fuel into wholesale, small wholesale, retail and storage. It will encourage openness and transparency of sales to ensure non-discriminatory access of other consumers to the retail and wholesale markets of oil products”, said Deputy Head of FAS Anatoly Golomolzin.

Earlier, similar Commercial Practices were signed with “:Bashneft” ANK” OJSC and “TNK-BP” regarding the markets of diesel fuel ad gasoline.

The objectives of signing the Commercial Practices are:

Ensuring maximum sales transparency for the existing and potential buyers, regulators, Company’s, employees, and other interested persons;

Preventing violations of the current law of the Russian Federation;

Informing about the company’s policy on sale of oil products in the Russian Federation, particularly, about the procedures for choosing counteragents and pricing.

The main goal of “Gazprom Neft” OJSC is to provide fuel to all end-customers through regional sales. According to the Commercial Practices, equal conditions for fuel stations of “Gazprom Neft” OJSC and retail sellers of gasoline and other players on the retail market must become a priority.

Anatoly Golomolzin also emphasized that for the first time the Commercial Policy on aviation fuel was approved. Commercial Practices for selling aviation fuel on the wholesale markets of the Russian Federation are aimed at formalizing the conditions for competitive market of aviation fuel.

The priority of commercial practice will become sales of aviation fuel for the needs of civil and military aviation. No less than 10% of aviation fuel shall be sold through exchange.

The Air carriers also have the right to buy aviation fuel under direct contracts with “Gazprom Neft” OJSC. Sales of fuel under direct contracts in order to satisfy the needs of air carriers have the same priority as possibility to buy fuel through daughter and dependent companies.