In Ukraine, there were signs of recovery in the Carpathian petrochemical hub. February 3, 2017 the Antimonopoly Committee reported that approved the purchase of 25% shares of “Karpatneftehima” company “Tehimpeks”. And February 7 has learned the details of the transaction. Co-owner “Tehimpeksa” Igor Julian Shchutsky told the media that he had purchased from the previous owner of the company “Lukoil”, up to 50% of the shares. According to him, his partner was a Ukrainian businessman and manager, “his good friend”. They paid $ 25 million. For two.

Previously, “Lukoil” has repeatedly insisted that invested $ 550 million. In the new line of chlorine release, polyvinyl chloride resin and its derivatives, respectively, and experts expect that the sale of a 25% stake in chemical plant could bring Russian oil company at least $ 137 million.

The media also exaggerated rumors that the company is close to acquiring managers Igor Kolomoisky and Konstantin Zhevago. However, some informed sources claimed that the deal, supposedly, is the attitude and the adviser of ex-prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk Andrew Ivanchuk. But Julian Shchutsky denied this information.

If confirmed his version of what to buy part of Russian assets are not related, our well-known politicians and oligarchs in Ukraine, it may happen that we are talking about trying to preserve the assets of the Russian company from the threat of confiscation. Similar cases have been: at the time of mass Russian assets corresponded to the trustees (we can remember the gas station “Lukoil Ukraine”, “Ukraine Rosneft” oil terminals, mobile communication networks and so forth.).

In general, over the past couple of years, this strategy has saved the Russian business in Ukraine from legal losses for tens of billions of dollars. And it is possible that certain politicians in Kiev received for facilitating good “commission.”

If the numbers on the deal in Kalush confirmed, it turns out that half of the plant’s assets, on which “Lukoil” has spent $ 550 million for two local partners were able to buy back only $ 25 million question -. Why so cheap – remains open. Experts have to talk about whether or not the difference in price can go into the pocket of some Ukrainian politicians as a bonus for the protection of Russian investors.

Presale

It should be noted that the first steps to revive the Carpathian chemical site began a year ago, immediately after the departure of the government Yatsenyuk. An indication of the financial activity growth around the chemical complex was adopted in the spring of last year, the decision of the former mayor of Kalush and the current head of the Ministry of Energy Igor Nasalyka – he provided economic independence purposes, from work that is critically dependent chemical plant.

Previously, she was supplying chemical plant with steam and electricity, and after obtaining independence, began to supply caustic and minerals. Until this power was part of the state enterprise “Ukrinterenergo” and replaces the power integrated into a single EU energy system Ukrainian power plants Burshtyn energy island. After the CHP has increased its influence in the chemical plant, the Ukrainian authorities have made the next step in the intensive care unit of the chemical – have made efforts to rebuild its supply circuit Nadvirna refinery. During the stable operation “Karptaneftehima” refinery supplied to the plant and diesel hydrocarbon feed for the base, ethylene production. For many years, coupled with refinery Odessa-Brody pipeline was without petroleum feedstock and chemical plant experienced shortage of cheap diesel fuel. Initially, chemical plant was forced to buy up to 1 million tons of Belarusian diesel on the pipeline Mozyr-Uzhgorod, then moved on imports from Russia of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

After Ukrainian law enforcers to investigate last autumn took numerous violations in the market of LPG imports, and without that poor supply of hydrocarbon chemical plant dramatically worsened, and “Lukoil” have even more reasons to sell the stock Kalush chemical giant.

To return the mill to buy the local oil feedstock, Ukrainian Fuel and Energy Ministry by the end of last fall, took over running the pipeline to the refinery, and completed the long-term dispute with companies Kolomoisky groups around technical oil on the route Odessa-Brody pipeline.

As a result of the settlement of a dispute, the parties have agreed to pump it into the oil of Azeri Light oil from the technical pipeline Odesa-Kremenchug. Transfer of technical resources necessary to maintain the operating pressure in the pipes. It will enable the Odessa-Brody pipeline to begin work on Nadviryanskom refineries, as well as in the direction of the second line of a multi-pipeline Brody-Mozyr. By what date the pipeline oil supplies Nadvirna can recover, is not yet known.

But last year the Azerbaijani state company Socar and Mozyr Oil Refinery “Belneftekhim” have stated that they are ready in 2017 to start the annual import several million tons of oil to Belarus along the route port of South-Brody-Mozyr. So far, due to the clearly belated settlement of the dispute over the technology of oil, it does not go Nadvirna.

As for Belarus, in the country of oil from the port of Yuzhny is what goes on Ukrainian iron road, which reduces the profitability markedly.

Thus, the state is the beginning of this year has created a stable perspective of improving supply “Karpatneftehima” electricity and hydrocarbons Nadviryanskogo refinery. It is therefore logical that the owner of Igor Kolomoisky refinery active negotiations with “Lukoil” for the sale of shares in Kalush chemical plant.

Rumors of these talks have been circulating in the oil market for a long time, since the head of oil trading company “Factor” Sergey Tischenko spring 2014 told the Kiev press that, according to him, Kolomoisky, in spite of the aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, intends to set up a joint venture with Russian oil business for the supply of Kalush chemical plant oil feedstock.

Chain reaction

Currently, the greatest chance is to start supply of Russian oil companies have not, and Company of Azerbaijan, Belarus, and possibly Iran. the last country of the Company by the fall of 2016 began to supply oil for the equivalent circuit with Azerbaijani partners to the Kremenchug refinery Igor Kolomoisky. Under these circumstances, consolidation of companies in the status Kolomoisky co-owner of the plant “Karpatneftehima” oligarch will return to the oil transportation scheme for the Odessa-Brody pipeline in Nadvirna and Belarus.

At the initiative of Kolomoisky and his managers, several million tons of oil from the South even in the years 2011-2012 were reported in Belarus on the Odessa-Brody pipeline, but this attempt was the failure of the opposition of Russian oil companies and the problems in the calculations

The complete attempt to restore a key role in supplying the refinery Nadvirna “Karpatneftehima”, is difficult to predict, but in general, the emergence of local suppliers of hydrocarbon raw materials could have a positive impact on the growth of the Ukrainian chemical industry in the weak, the polymer segment of the industry. Despite the rapid growth in the industry, consumers, the level of polymer consumption in Ukraine is 4 times less than the average for the EU countries (20 kg / person. Versus 80 kg / person. At the end of 2016).

In addition to the packaging industry, the main applications of polymers are manufacturing window profiles, housings of household appliances and plastic pipes for construction and municipal economy. And activation observed in these markets.

Suffice it to recall the recent arrival of the Russian-British holding at A1 “Rubezhansky Pipe Plant”, as well as the commissioning of a number of plants for assembly of home appliances Asian and European manufacturers. This makes it possible to count if you do not catch up with Europe on sales of polymer products, or at least to reduce the backlog. By the way, ten years ago the gap was much smaller than it is now: 5.7 kg / person. we and 16.5 kg / person. in Europe.