---

Gazpromneft Marine Bunker, operator of Gazprom Neft’s bunker business, has acquired its first international asset, Marine Bunker Balkan S.A. (Romania), a supplier in the Black Sea port of Constantza, from Unicom Holding.

Marine Bunker Balkan S.A. manages two bunker vessels, one storage vessel with a capacity of 4,000 tonnes and two mooring barges, as well as leasing the Constantza Oil Terminal, which has a capacity of 1,500 tonnes.

Gazpromneft Marine Bunker says it expects annual bunker fuel sales to exceed 100,000 tonnes, resulting in the company becoming one of the largest bunker operators at the port of Constantza.

The Russian supplier says it plans to further expand its presence in Romania to the ports of Mangalia and Midia, with bunker fuel supplied from Gazprom Neft’s Russian and Serbian refineries.

Constantza is one of the largest ports in Europe and the third largest in the Black Sea region, with annual bunker sales of over 400,000 tonnes. It is situated at the crossroads of trade routes from Europe to Asia and represents a key link in the strategic shipping corridor of the Danube river. Trade and shipping corridors in the region are being developed, which means that Danube river transit and vessel docking in Constantza are expected to grow by 1-2% per year up until 2025.

Alexander Dyukov, Chairman of Gazprom Neft’s Management Board, commented: "The strategic objective of Gazprom Neft’s bunker business is to become a significant player in the international bunker fuel market. Gazpromneft Marine Bunker’s international expansion represents a key step in this direction. I am confident that the experience of working in the European market gained as a result of this acquisition, combined with our existing successful asset management in Russia, will further strengthen Gazprom Neft’s bunker position."