OREANDA-NEWS. Bashneft released its preliminary operating results for the six months of 2013. During the period from January through June 2013, oil production at the Company’s fields amounted to 7,768 thousand tonnes, which is 1.5% higher than in the same period in 2012. In the second quarter of 2013, Bashneft produced 3,924 thousand tonnes of oil, which is 2.7% more than in the second quarter of 2012. Besides, in June 2013, oil production (1,301 thousand tonnes) increased by 3.5% year-on-year (in June 2012, it amounted to 1,257 thousand tonnes)

In the second quarter of 2013, Bashneft’s average daily production totalled 43.1 thousand tonnes per day, reaching a record high since 1996. The Company achieved the increase in production by conducting highly efficient geological and engineering operations and applying state-of-the-art technologies, including those for supporting horizontal drilling.

During the period from January through June 2013, Bashneft’s refining complex in Ufa processed 10,501 thousand tonnes of oil, which is 4.2% more than in the same period in 2012. In the second quarter of 2013, the Company refined 5,285 thousand tonnes of oil, achieving a 6.7% year-on-year increase. The increase in refining was related primarily to a low base in the second quarter of 2012, when the Ufimsky refinery plant was shut down for scheduled major repairs.

During the six months of 2013, refining depth averaged 85.3%, which was slightly higher than in the first half of 2012. The share of light products increased by 1.8 basis points to 60.7%.

At the same time, between April and June 2013, the share of light products rose by 3.3 basis points year-on-year (from 57.9% to 61.2%), while refining depth remained at the level of about 86%.

During the period from January through June 2013, the output of commodities at Bashneft’s refineries added 6.3% year-on-year and reached 9,611 thousand tonnes. Moreover, commercial gasoline production increased by 11.2% compared to the first half of 2012; in the second quarter of 2013, it rose by 18.6% year-on-year.

In the second quarter of 2013, the share of Euro 4 and Euro 5 gasoline in the total gasoline output increased to 91.9% from 71.8% in the second quarter of 2012. The share of Euro 4 and Euro 5 diesel fuel rose to 42.7% compared to 26.1% in the second quarter of 2012.

The Company achieved an increase in the share of light products and the output of engine fuels (primarily those meeting stricter emission standards) by continuing to upgrade its refineries. For instance, in the spring of 2013, a complex of sulphuric acid alkylation and sulphuric acid regeneration (SKA-ROSK) units was put into operation at the Bashneft-Novoil Branch; this will enable the Company to quadruple the output of alkylate, which is an important component in the production of high-octane gasoline.