The Rompetrol Group and the Government of Romania through the Office of State Ownerships and Privatization in Industry (OPSPI) have finalized the technical details of the Memorandum of Understanding concluded in February. The Memorandum provides a beneficial solution for both countries for amiable solving of the dispute concerning the conversion of Rompetrol Rafinare bonds in shares in the favor of the Romanian State.
“We salute the decision and determination of the Romanian Government in finding and adopting a quick and benefic solution for both parts, that provides us both the continuation of our activities and operations in Romania and the premises, necessary for The Rompetrol Group extension in the Black Sea region. This partnership will support the energetic bridge between the Kazakhstan energetic resources and sales markets in Western Europe and will make its contribution to the consolidation and development of economic relations between both countries – Kazakhstan and Romania”, Zhanat Tussupbekov declares, CEO The Rompetrol Group.
The agreement has two major elements – redeeming by the Group of a significant equity stake from the shares, owned by the State at Rompetrol Rafinare (operator of the refineries Petromidia Năvodari and Vega Ploieşti), as well as the establishment of a Kazakh-Romanian investment fund, having an estimated amount of about 1 billion US dollars. According the agreement, Rompetrol will pay 200 million USD for taking over 26.6% of shares and the Romanian State will remain for a 3 years period a significant shareholder of the company from Năvodari with 18%.The investment fund represents a strategic partnership between both states – Romania and Kazakhstan that allows the development of the internal energetic sector, as well as the role of Romania in the Black Sea region and in the European Union.
The Rompetrol Group is fully owned by the Kazakhstan National Oil & Gas Company KazMunayGas and the investments made by KMG in Romania exceed 2 billion US dollars (period 2007-2012). The main directions of the fund investments will follow the consolidation of The Rompetrol Group activities and operations, diversification of crude oil supply sources, both for Romania and the European Union, creation of new jobs, as well as the establishment of the necessary frame for attracting new investments having a direct impact on the Romanian economy.
Having a 7 years maturity from the moment of its creation, the fund is formed of Rompetrol (80%) and the Romanian State (20%). The Group together with its sole shareholder KazMunayGas will guarantee the overall financing of the investment fund, also ensuring the amounts, necessary for covering the Romanian State participation in the capital of the fund.
“The main KazMunayGas objective for Rompetrol during 2007-2012 targeted the modernization and growth of the Petromidia Refinery and this objective was successfully attained by the end of the last year. We have the biggest dedicated facility in Romania that at the same time is the most efficient one in the Central and Eastern Europe and we are ready to get to the next step of Group development – the retail and trading activities. All these investments had and will have a positive impact on the domestic economy too – an annual contribution of 1.2 billion USD to the state budget, the biggest exporter of oil products from Romania – 1.7 billion USD in 2012, as well as a significant employer – over 7,700 employees and members of their families directly depending on the evolution and achievements of the refinery, while 25,000 people depend indirectly (suppliers, contractors)”, Zhanat Tussupbekov adds.
The Romanian state became the shareholder of Rompetrol Rafinare in 2012 with an equity participation of 44.69% as a result of the conversion of the bonds, issued by the company in 2003, on the account of a debt accumulated in difficult economic conditions. Thus, since 2004 and till the present moment the Group has paid to the state budget interest in the amount of about 250 million USD and redeemed at the moment of maturity bonds, amounting 71 million USD.
The Rompetrol Group is the biggest acquisition of the State of Kazakhstan outside its borders and the sole shareholder of the Group – KazMunayGas – is targeting in its long-term strategy investments exceeding 1.5 billion USD in the Black Sea area, a great part of this amount is to be spent in Romania.
The Rompetrol Group
Communications and Public Relations Department