Energize 2

Refining
Y
Y
CH
CO2 EMISSION REDUCTION:
Games without boundaries
Tank-up Quality:
A time of change
INTERVIEW
FIRST DEPUTY CEO
OF “GAZPROM NEFT”
OIL
BUSINESS
New technologies
give NIS an
advantage
1
2
Refining
Refining
1
Refining
2
Refining
CONTENTS
Y
Y
CH
CO2 EMISSION REDUCTION:
Games without boundaries
Tank-up Quality:
A time of change
news&trends
INTERVIEW
FIRST DEPUTY CEO
OF “GAZPROM NEFT”
issue
regional
magazine
2
Y: 2014
januarY
februarY
4-9
18
Vadim Yakovlev
cover story
new technologies give NIS an advantage
10-15
marCH
NIS Shares
Safe Haven for Small Shareholders
OIL
BUSINESS
New technologies
give NIS an
advantage
The mark of responsible forestry
This magazine is printed
on paper from responsibly
managed forests
16-17
interview
INVESTMENTS TO COMBAT THE CRISIS
18-23
24
Games Without
boundaries
dossier
Games Without boundaries
24-29
industry&bussiness
A time of change
30-35
region
ARRIVAL OF the Young Lions
36
Arrival of
the Young lions
36-39
HR
Opportunity for Young Professionals
40-45
culture
It’s not all black and white
Energize
Art direction and design by
Print:
The international magazine of NIS.
Metaklinika
“Stojkov”
Illustrators:
Energize Magazine is published quarterly.
Aleksa Jovanović
Copyright © 2014 NIS
NIS, Novi Sad, Serbia
Public Relations and Communication
Photographers:
Department
Mladen Janković, Dušan Đorđević
Fpr@nis.eu
Phone +381 11 260 66 95
www.nis.eu
46-47
Promotions and Marketing
A Different Kind of Offer
Issue 2, April 2013
Published by:
40
Opportunity for
Young Professionals
48-49
56
trendsetter
The King of Speed
Full tank
50-55
full tank
A Forgotten Heaven on Earth
56-59
3
4
News&trends
News&trends
NIS introduces
environmentallyfriendly drilling method
NIS is introducing a new drilling method
involving the principle of dry-drilling technology. This is one of the most advanced
technologies used by the world’s protection
for oil industry leaders and it meets the most
stringent environmental protection standards.
The method provides maximum protection of soil, water and the environment from
pollution and meets all the domestic and
European regulations governing environmental
protection, geological research and occupational health and safety. Furthermore, this
new drilling technology adds up to significant
financial savings.
Support for local community development
The allocation of funds through the open
competition system in 2014 has begun
recently. Non-profit organizations from
Serbia can participate in the competitions with projects in the area of sports,
culture, science, environmental protection,
and helping the socially vulnerable groups.
NIS CEO, Kirill Kravchenko, has signed
Memoranda on Collaboration with the representatives of 11 municipalities and towns:
Belgrade, Novi Sad, Pančevo, Zrenjanin,
NIS has been awarded the prestigious
VIRTUS Corporate Philanthropy Award.
Michael Davenport , Ambassador of the
EU Delegation to Serbia, presented the
main award to NIS CEO Kirill Kravchenko
for the contribution at the national level.
Kikinda, Novi Bečej, Žitište, Kanjiža, Srbobran, Niš, and Čačak. In 2009 NIS started
the implementation of the project of support to local communities which has been
improved on with every new year. Since
last year, 100 percent of the funds are allocated in open competitions to projects
which non-profit organizations put up as
priority ones for the socioeconomic development of the local community. As yet,
450 projects have been completed, helping the development of local communities,
facilitating and improving the operation
of many institutions in sports, culture, and
education.
Together for the Community
Have a project?
Get informed
NIS Receives
“Best of Serbia” Award
Michael Davenport
Awards Corporate
Philanthropy Prize
to NIS
Apply
Make it happen!
Consumer
Award
The NIS petrol station chain has won first
place in the Best Buy Award survey, having
received the most votes of Serbian consumers. The survey was conducted by the
Swiss organization ICERTIAS (International
Certification Association). The consumers
have recognized NIS petrol stations as a
symbol of the best price-quality ratio on
the domestic market in a survey for the
Best Buy Award. Only consumers with personal experience were allowed to give their
opinions and perceptions in the survey.The
Best Buy survey in Serbia included 57 economic categories in sections such as petrol
station chains, retail, food, fruit juices,
mineral water, house appliances, telecommunications, finance, and many others.
- We are very pleased to be the winners
of the Virtus award. In the past years NIS
has been making economic headway
and has increased its contribution to the
budget of Serbia from seven to over 14
percent, if we also take into account the
payment of dividends. For us it is very
important to invest more and more in
social projects each year. Thus, in the last
five years, we have invested more than
five billion dinars in various programs:
cooperation with the university, the local
community, sports and culture. This
award will certainly motivate us to be
even more determined to continue with
these efforts in the future, NIS CEO, Kirill
Kravchenko, said on the occasion.
The traditional annual VIRTUS awards
were awarded for the seventh time in
recognition of companies that made the
greatest contribution to the common
good in 2013 by providing financial or
other support to non-profit campaigns
or civil society organizations.
NIS Annual
Business Report for
2013 Adopted
NIS Board of Directors adopted on 15 April
the annual report on company business
activities for 2013. The Board of Directors also reviewed the implementation
status of NIS energy projects – natural gas
monetization through the construction of
co-generation units at company reservoirs,
the course of preparatory works for the
construction of CHP Pančevo (combined
heat and power plant), company policy on
increasing energy efficiency in production,
as well as alternative energy development
projects. NIS management presented to
the members of the Board of Directors the
corporate Commercial Policy, which lays
down the principles of company wholesale
and retail operations, in building customer
relations, and implementing the loyalty
programme and a flexible pricing policy.
NIS has won the “Best of Serbia” award
in two categories – for the GAZPROM
petrol stations network and for the best
corporate brand in the category of production goods and services. The “Best of
Serbia” award is bestowed by the Serbian
Chamber of Commerce in collaboration
with the Ministry of Foreign and Internal
Trade and Telecommunications and the
economic daily Economic Overview for
the best corporate and product brands in
Serbia. In the “Best Entry of Foreign Brand
into the Serbian market” category, NIS won
the award for the GAZPROM petrol station
chain. In addition, NIS received the “Best
of Serbia” corporate brand award for the
second time running. A succession of awards is yet another proof of stable quality
and consumer trust. The “Best of Serbia”
award has been given for ten years now,
and represents one of the most recognizable brand awards in Serbia. This year,
over 170 brands were competing, and the
main assessment criteria were market-financial in nature -- consumer perceptions
and the evaluation of the expert jury.
5
8
6
VESTI I TRENDOVI
News&trends
VESTI I TRENDOVI
News&trends
New Gazprom brand
Nagrada
za in
petrol
station
korporativnu
Romania
“ The retail segment is very dynamic, and
our
mission
is to provide
our
clients with
obzir
uzmemo
i plaćanje
dividendi.
Za
high-quality
products
and
services.
The
nas je veoma važno i da svake godine
concept
ofviše
GAZPROM
petrol
stationsTako
ulažemo
u socijalne
projekte.
is smo
an indicator
of
the
efforts
that
we
u poslednjih pet godina uložili
put
in in
to further
increase
our
više
odorder
pet milijardi
dinara
u različite
NIS Petrol Romania opened the fourth
presence
on–the
Romanian
market. We
programe
saradnju
sa univerzitetom,
petrol
station
under
the Gazprom
brand
NIS je
dobitnik
prestižne
VIRTUS
nagrade willlokalnim
therefore
continue tosport
invest
so that
zajednicama,
i kulturu.
on 18 March in Arad. In this way, NIS Petrol
weOva
cannagrada
keep strengthening
our
premium
će sigurno uticati da još
continues
business
operations
nagradutozadevelop
doprinos
na nacionalnom
brand“,
saidnastavimo
Ileana Baltatu,
odlučnije
istim Executive
putem in nivou,
Romania,
putting emphasis
on NIS-a
strengtgeneralnom
direktoru
Kirilu Director
for
downstream
and
istakao je tom prilikom operations
Kiril Kravčenko,
hening
the retail
position
in the
western
Kravčenku
uručio
je Majkl
Devenport,
Deputy
CEO
of
NIS
Petrol
Romania.
generalni direktor NIS-a.
parts
of the country.
ambasador
delegacije Evropske unije u
Srbiji.
Tradicionalne godišnje VIRTUS nagrade
-Izuzetno nam je drago što smo dobitnici „Virtus“ nagrade. Poslednjih godina
NIS je napredovao u ekonomskom smeru
i povećao učešće u budžetu Srbije sa
sedam na više od 14 odsto, ukoliko u
NIS na Sajmu
automobila u Beogradu
NIS je tradicionalno nastupio na beogradskom Sajmu automobila „Belgrade
Car show 2014 “gde je ljubiteljima automobilizma ponudio bogat i raznovrstan
program u okviru svog štanda. Sa posetiocima sajma najpre se družio najbolji
srpski automobilista Dušan Borković.
U okviru svog nastupa na Sajmu, NIS je
rezultate
poslovanja
u 2013.
A predstavio
market sharei of
21.5 percent
in 2013 has
godini jednog
od svojih
biznis
pravaca
strengthened
NISOTEC’
s leading
position
in
koji
se bave
mazivima.
dani
the
Serbian
market,
and thisPreostali
year’s plan
is tona
sajmu it
zaby
naše
goste bili
susales
rezervisani
increase
25 percent.
The
plan has
za
druženje
sa
košarkašima
been increased by 16 percent in Partizan
comparison
fudbalerima
Crvene
Zvezde,
dok
toNIS
theiplan
for the previous
year.
In addition,
su
poslednjeg
dana
sajma,
na
NIS-vom
the distribution network in the Balkans will be
štandu, predstavnici
priliku
significantly
expanded. Tomedija
this end,dobili
managers
da isprobaju
jela pripremljena
kuvarima
have
been appointed
in the daughter
comGazprom
benzinskih
stanica.
panies
in Bulgaria
and Romania
to coordinate
NISOTEC Breaks into
Regional Market
lubricant sales in these markets.
dodeljene su sedmi put kao priznanje
kompanijama koje su tokom 2013.
godine najviše doprinele opštem dobru
pružajući materijalnu ili drugu vrstu
zacijama civilnog društva.
Gazprom BIH
Participates in the
Mostar Economic
Fair
The Gazprom petrol station retail
network in Bosnia and Herzegovina
had a presentation at the Mostar
Economic Fair. The Gazprom petrol station stand was visited by the
Chair of the Presidency of BIH Bakir
Izetbegović, President of Croatia Ivo
Josipović, President of the Republic
of Srpska Milorad Dodik, and other
dignitaries. Branko Radujko, Director
of the Gazprom BIH petrol station
retail network, gave a brief introduction to the business activities of our
company in the BIH market for the
high-level delegation, and pointed out
on the occasion that BIH is interesting
investments-wise. The petrol station
network under the Gazprom brand
offers a broad range of premium
fuels and other products, meeting the
needs of even the most demanding
consumers. In line with the corporate motto “The Best is Before You“,
Euro-quality products are available
at GAZPROM petrol stations, contributing to better engine performance,
longer engine life, and the reduction
of harmful gas emissions as well as environmental protection. The products
on offer include Euro Premium BMB
95, Super 100, Euro-diesel, premium
diesel, and LPG.
The Largest Motor Oil
Objavljen Plant in
Production
Russia Goes Online
„Gasprom njefta“
In the Gazprom Neft lubricants plant in
Rast proizvodnje
ugljovodonika
i
Omsk,
the second phase
of operation
povećanje
obima
ofznačajno
the motor
oil blending
andprodaje
packaging
u premijum
kanalima
prometa
(sitna
unit
has started.
The new
production
veleprodaja
i sopstvena
mreža benzunit’s
total capacity
is unequalled
in
inskih The
stanica,
prodaja
mlaznog
Russia.
Omsk
lubricants
plantgoriva
is the i
bunkerisanje)
su company
povećanje
core
productionobezbedili
plant of the
pokazatelja
EBITDA
zahas
4,2
Gazprom
Neftkorigovane
– Lubricants,
which
odsto.
Čist
prihod
iznosi
177,92
milijarde
a total of five motor oil production
rubalja,inšto
za 0,9Italy,
odsto
facilities
Russia,
andpremašuje
Serbia. isti
Total production volume stands at
over
490,000utons
ofgodini
high-quality
Proizvodnja
2013.
dostiglaoils,
je
lubricants,
and
engine
fluids
per year.
457,42 mln. barela naftnog ekvivalenta
Gazprom
Neft –
Lubricants
produces
(62,2 miliona
tona
n.e.), i povećala
se za
petrol
and
diesel
engine
oils
for passen4,2 odsto u poređenju s rezultatima
iz
ger
and godine.
freight Najveći
vehicles,uticaj
transmission
2012.
na ovaj pokaand
hydraulic
industrial
serzatelj
imali sufluids,
faktori
rastuće oils,
proizvodnje
vice
products
and
coolants
under
the
u Orenburškom regionu i na Priobskom
“G-Energy”
and “Gazprom
Neft”
nalazištu, zatim
proizvodnja
gasabrands,
na
and
marine
oils
under
the
“Texaco”
Muravljenkovskom nalazištu, početak
brand.
The company’s
product
range
rada Samburgskog
nalazišta
„Sever
includes
over
400
types
of
oils
and lubEnergije“, rast obima iskorišćenosti
ricants
for
all
market
segments
as
well as
kaptažnog naftnog gasa, kao i uspešna
more
thanvisokotehnoloških
1,300 product items.
primena
operacija na
postojećim nalazištima Kompanije.
Ukupni obim prerade nafte u prošloj god-
Dollar-Euro Dynamics
Dynamics of Brent and
Urals Crude Oil Prices
Brent Crude (USD/BBL)
Urals Crude (USD/BBL)
112
1.400
111
1.354
110
109
1.300
108
1.250
107
JANUARY
Q1 of 2014
FEBRUARY
MARCH
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
9
7
8
News&trends
News&trends
Gazprom Neft
Announces 2013
Financial Statement
inly by the losses from foreign currency
gains and losses and a review of the
credit portfolio following the changes of
rouble exchange rate.
The growing hydrocarbon production and substantially increased sales
through premium channels (small-scale wholesales and own petrol station
network, jet fuel sale and bunkering)
have led to a 4.2 percent rise in the
adjusted EBITDA. The net profit totalled
177.92 billion roubles, which is a 0.9 per
cent increase against the 2012 index. Its
further increase was slowed down ma-
The 2013 production reached 457.42
million barrels of oil equivalent (62.2
million TOE), which is a 4.2 percent
increase year-over-year. This is principally linked to such factors as a growing
production in the Orenburg region and
the Priobsk reservoir, the Muravlenkovskoye reservoir gas production, launching
of Samburgskoye reservoir of SeverEnergia, better utilisation of the associated oil gas, and successful application
of high technologies in the Company’s
reservoirs.
OPEC
Growth of optimism
The Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries has raised oil demand forecasts
for 2014 as a result of increased consumption in the USA at the end of last year and
a gradual recovery of the world economy.
OPEC puts the expected oil demand worldwide at 91.1 million barrels a day -- 1.1 million barrels more than last year. According
to OPEC data, oil consumption in the USA
grew significantly in December, and stayed
“healthy” in January 2014.
Last year’s refining figures are 42.63
million tonnes in total. They are slightly
different from the 2012 results due to
scheduled revamps in the Company’s
refineries. The sales in the premium
segments hit 23.9 million tonnes, with a
rise in the average petrol station sales in
Russia by 7.8 per cent (19 tonnes a day),
which is among the best indexes in the
industry.
Collaboration
in the domain of
unconventional
resources
Gazprom Neft and Schlumberger are
expanding their collaboration in order
to increase development efficiency of
hard-to-recover shale oil in western
Siberia. In the near future, the collaboration between the two companies will be
centred around Gazprom Neft’s plans for
the implementation of unconventional oil
reserve development projects in this area.
Upcoming Energy
Conferences
Arctic Oil Spill
Response Programme
UN Adopts New
Fuel Consumption
Calculation Method
The Economic Commission of the United Nations for Europe has adopted a new method
for calculating vehicle fuel consumption, closer to the actual conditions than the existing
one. Actual fuel consumption for a vehicle
is often different from the one cited by the
manufacturer. The standard termed WLTP
should replace the existing NEDC system,
established in 1996. The new method, to be
used in laboratories conducting consumption
tests for vehicles intended for the market,
iis significantly more accurate, the UN Economic Commission for Europe announces.
Gazprom Neft is the first Russian company to join the Arctic Oil Spill Response
Technology Joint Industry Programme,
implemented by the world’s largest oil
and gas companies. Work on the four
year programme began in 2012, and the
research projects branch out into several
lines of inquiry, e.g. studying the behaviour
of oil under the ice, testing dispersants
(surface-active polymers used in remediating oil spills) in real-life simulations, as well
as detecting oil spills in low visibility and ice.
”Bringing Arctic oil fields into production,
including those located on the continental shelf, require advanced technological
solutions in organizing production, ensuring
project environmental safety, and reducing
adverse effects on the environment. A joint
research programme will allow the participants to gain cutting-edge experience and
expertise in this industry, with the aim of
continual improvement of the system of
environmental safety in the Arctic“, Vadim
Yakovlev, First Deputy CEO of Gazprom,
pointed out.
Japan Starts Extracting
Oil From Oil Shale
Commercial production of oil from oil shales has started in Japan. As much as 6,000
litres a day (37.7 barrels) was produced
in each of the first two experiments, and
40,000 litres (251.6 barrels) in the third. For
Japan, which is looking into various energy
options after the Fukushima nuclear
power plant disaster, the first commercial
production is a historic event, regardless
20-23
may
2014
27-30
Tuzla, B & H
27-30
Divčibare, Serbia
28
Belgrade, Serbia
may
2014
may
2014
may
2014
of the small quantities produced. Up until
2011, nuclear energy satisfied about a third
of the country’s energy needs.
Celje, Slovenija
17th International Fair on
Energy, Energy Efficiency
and Energy Sources
Energy - the International
Energy Fair; energy,
industry and mining,
International Energy
Conference
GAS 2014 - International Scientific and Professional Meeting on Gas
and Gas Technology
Energy and the Budget
Deficit of Serbia Organised by Today
Conference Centre
9
10
Cover story
Oil business segment
According to 2013 figures, the amount of NIS’s tax
payments into the state budget of Serbia was over a
billion euros, a 30 percent increase compared to last year.
NIS tax payments constitute about 14 percent of budget
revenues of the Republic of Serbia
New
technologies
give NIS an
advantage
by Miša Laketić
Cover story
11
12
Cover story
Cover story
“
Last year was a very complex
one for the Company. We are
pleased that despite an unstable
macroeconomic situation and
larger tax payments we managed
to maintain profitability and
fully implement our Investment
Programme. Last year we focused
on increasing the Company’s
efficiency and introducing new
technologies. Owing to the
completion of the Pančevo Refinery
modernization, the efficiency
of our refining capacities has
doubled. The year 2014 will be
even more complex. New projects
are ahead of us, and it will be
difficult to implement them in
view of the continuing trend of
crisis in the regional economy
and issues with weak purchasing
power of the major consumers of
our products
”
Key NIS business
indicators
2013
Production of domestic oil
and gas (Thousand TOE ) Volume of oil and semifinished product refining
(Thousand tonnes)
Total sales and distribution
of petroleum products
(Thousand tonnes)
Retail
(Thousand tonnes)
1.642
3.066
3.079
674
2012
1.605
2.254
2.395
597
growth
2%
36%
29%
13%
When a company successfully closes a year that will be
remembered by the market as a tough one for business, it is
a sure indicator of how strong the company is. Such was the
previous year – largely challenging for business, and not only
in Serbia. Nevertheless, NIS will remember it in a positive way
– the Company achieved results for which its employees can be
enormously proud.
The market was characterized by lower consumption of petroleum products resulting from the lower purchasing power
in all regional countries. Furthermore, there was a cut in
spending by weakened industry and crisis-ridden agriculture. Mr Kirill Kravchenko
NIS Chief Executive Officer
The complex economic trends in Europe continued throughout last year, which inevitably affected living and working
conditions in Serbia and the region, so it can be rightly said
that in 2013 NIS operated in harsh conditions and under the
huge impact of negative external factors.
Sales of NIS petroleum products (including exports deliveries)
in 2013 were 3.079 million tonnes, which is a 29 percent increase year-on-year. Retail grew by 13 percent, and wholesale
by 19 percent. The basic drivers of the sales volume increase
were improved quality of petroleum products and the introduction of new types of fuel into the Company production
line. In 2013, NIS focused on the development of client marketing programmes and increasing consumer loyalty.
One of the principal achievements of NIS in 2013 was in the
area of oil refining. As much as 36 percent more oil was refined, which translates into 3.066 million tonnes of oil. Pančevo
Oil Refinery now ranks among the most modern refineries in
this part of Europe. The refining depth rose nine percent and
is close to 84 percent; in addition, there has been a significant
increase in the production of white petroleum products. Compared to 2009, when 60 percent of our production was white
products, in 2013 we reached 75 percent.
NIS investments in
business operation development
500
497.2
468.42
450
400
350
300
300
250
200
171.84
150
100
82.86
50
In 2013, NIS produced 1.697 TOE (tons of oil equivalent) of
hydrocarbons, a 2-percent rise compared to last year’s indicator. According to the 2013 results, the resource base growth
rate is higher than the production volume growth. Last year,
new drilling technologies were applied in oil and gas exploration and production and the Company launched activities
related to gas resource utilisation efficiency programme. Also,
the scope of efficient exploration drilling increased and a
significant improvement was made in developing exploration
and production projects outside Serbia.
According to the 2013 results, the amount of NIS tax payments into the Serbian state budget exceeded a billion euros,
which is 30 percent more than last year. NIS tax payments
constitute about 14 percent of budget revenues of the Republic of Serbia.
One of the most important events last year was dividend
payment to shareholders. The shareholders were paid a gross
amount of 110 million euros.
The growth of profit in 2013 is a major success for NIS. The
stability of basic financial and operational indicators allowed
the Company to implement a record investment programme, in the amount of 500 million euros, which is 6 percent
more than the amount of capital investments in 2012. The
(million euros)*
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
* as per NBS middle exchange rate on 31 December 2013,
114.64 RSD for 1 EUR
2013 investment programme focused on increasing process
efficiency of hydrocarbon production via the introduction of
new technological solutions, development of projects in the
area of rational use of gas resources and energy efficiency,
and continued modernization of the refining complex and the
retail network.
“Last year was a very complex one for the Company. We are
pleased that despite an unstable macroeconomic situation
and larger tax payments we managed to maintain profitability and fully implement our Investment Programme. Last
year we focused on increasing the Company’s efficiency and
introducing new technologies. Owing to the completion of the
Pančevo Refinery modernization, the efficiency of our refining
capacities has doubled. The year 2014 will be even more
complex. New projects are ahead of us, and it will be difficult
to implement them in view of the continuing trend of crisis in
the regional economy and issues with weak purchasing power
of the major consumers of our products,” said Mr Kirill Kravchenko, NIS Chief Executive Officer.
13
14
Cover story
Cover story
NIS Wins Award for
Best Relations with
Investors
In 2013, for the third year running, NIS
received an award for best relations with
investors, bestowed by the Belgrade Stock
Exchange. In comparison with 2012, the
expert committee of the Belgrade Stock
Exchange reached a conclusion that NIS had
improved the informativeness and completeness of published reports, as well as the
relationship of company employees with the
investment public. Among the companies
listed on the Belgrade Stock Exchange, NIS
received the highest total grade according
to the criteria of public presence, the data
available on the internet, and the number of
meetings with investors.
“I am delighted that the investment
public has recognized our efforts in this
area. Some of the important parameters
that were assessed are the publication
of historical reports, publishing current
news and the news archive on the website, company history information in the
form of a presentation on the internet,
the existence of graphic interactive
displays of the changes in the price of
stock and the turnover, the publishing
of audio and video records of company
business activities, as well as basic
information on company management.
All the innovations that we introduce in
this area of business are in line with the
current world trends and standards of
corporate governance,” Jelena Miljuš,
NIS Manager for relations with investors,
said in a statement.
Investment Structure
(in millions of euros)*
211.9
Exploration and production
141.3
Sales and distribution, and network development
99.4
Development of refining capacities
44.4
Investments in other activities
*as per NBS middle exchange rate
on 31 December 2013, 114.64 RSD for 1 EUR
When these results are compared with
the results of regional companies, it is
clear that NIS ranks high. This success
is by no means an accident. Two factors
have contributed to such financial
results. The first factor is internal
efficiency. Not much popular measures
were required within the company to
reduce the expenses in all areas. The
second factor is the introduction of new
technologies, and this will continue in
2014 as well.
Robert Rethy, analyst and Head of the
Research Team at Wood & Company,
confirms for Energize that NIS ranks
high in terms of the 2013 results,
compared with regional companies.
Analysing the situation in this part
of Europe, Rethy points out that most
refineries had poor results in 2013.
“When it comes to crude oil refining, there isn’t much you can do.
You try to be efficient, to reduce
operating costs, increase capacity
utilization, improve yields, but at
the end of the day the profit margin
that the refineries can hope for is
beyond their control. Still, a relatively stable price of oil in 2013 did
impact on rather solid company
revenues, generated by the difference between the oil production
price and the price of petroleum
products on the market, as well
as on a solid cash flow in exploration and production,” Rethy says.
Uncertain
price of oil
In answer to the question on what
challenges lie ahead for the companies
conducting business in Central and
Eastern Europe in 2014, Rethy says that
it is difficult to predict. “No one knows
what the price of oil will be, or the profit
margin that oil companies can expect.
A sudden change of the exchange rate
could also be a challenge. Although a low
exchange rate of the domestic currency
is good for the oil industry locally, it
might also have negative side effects,
such as slowing down of the national
economy (less exports due to a strong
domestic currency). Therefore, refining
remains the most challenging section of
the industry,” Rethy comments.
EstImated BusIness
Performance
Slobodan Sokolović, General Secretary of the National Petroleum Industry of Serbia, tells Energize that regional companies conducted business in an adverse business environment.
According to him, the companies have remained “vital.” He
claims that the EBITDA drop will not have a drastic impact on
their position in the region. Another characteristic of the regional market is significant investment in oil and gas exploration. “The shrinking refining margin and a slow growth (drop)
of petroleum product consumption are the most pronounced
negative trends observed in all the companies taken into
account. What is interesting is the trend of increasing petroleum product exports to neighbouring countries, compared to
sales in the domicile country,” Sokolović says.
Still, the prospects of the energy sector and oil companies are
bright in the long run. Energy is prerequisite to production
and growing regional markets will grow even further, which
will increase the demand for energy-generating products.
The announced investments will undoubtedly help expand
this sector and also improve the efficiency and quality and
sustain the environment.
15
16
Cover story
Cover story
Those who did not up and convert the
Serbian petroleum company’s securities to cash when NIS went public on
the Belgrade Stock Exchange in August
2010 can be quite content. If they
decided to sell five of their shares, they
would get in return 900 RSD (7.8 euros)
for each, which is a good profit in view
of the fact that the initial price was 550
RSD per share (just under 5.5 euros),
and on top of this, the profit does not
include the dividends.
Safe Haven for
Small Shareholders
When NIS went public over three years ago,
this meant not only increased capitalization
of the Serbian capital market, but also an
opportunity for small shareholders to get
first-hand experience of how the stock
exchange works
by Rade Repija
550 RSD
900 RSD
Wise Broker’s Nenad Gujaničić comments on whether and to what extent
this is the right decision to make:
“NIS shares went public on the
Belgrade Stock Exchange at the end
of August 2010, and ever since then
their value has been increasing, which
speaks to the question of whether their
owners were right in deciding to hold
on to them. What’s more important
than past gains is the fact that NIS lay
solid foundations for future growth
and development, and that we can expect the value of the company to keep
increasing in the future.
About 4.8 million citizens of Serbia
received five free NIS shares each, with
the nominal share value of 500 RSD
apiece (about five euros at the time).
The former and current NIS employees
received the total of 4.1 per cent of
company shares.
A great number of unwilling shareholders, who had received these securities as a gift from the Serbian state,
decided to cash them immediately.
This resulted in the price dropping to
442 RSD (about four euros at the time),
which big investors recognized as an
opportunity to make a profit. Based
on the price of shares, and given the
well-known fact that at one point the
value of the shares was 1,020 RSD each
(just under ten euros at the time), it is
safe to say that the possible gain from
shares alone was over 100 per cent.
As Mr Gujaničić says, the principal factor contributing to the NIS share price
growth certainly is the improvement
in the company business operations.
Once a company that was losing
money, NIS has become an enterprise
that grows and develops, applying the
highest-standards of corporate culture
in the process.
As someone who at the very outset of
trading in the company shares recommended that the shares be treated as
a long-term investment, Mr Branislav
Jorgić , Manager of the Jorgić Broker
brokerage, still holds the same view.
“These shares can be considered as
savings, and as such, they should not
be sold quickly,” Jorgić says, basing this
recommendation on positive business results, announced investments,
improvements in technology, as well
as the fact that NIS has started to pay
dividends to shareholders.
“Last year, the dividend yield was eight
per cent, which is a rather handsome
yield in comparison with bank interest
rates for savings accounts,“ Jorgić points out. Regarding the period of time
in which NIS shares should not be sold,
he stresses that it should be three to
five years.
The citizens who have not sold the
NIS shares that they were given free of
charge (and last year there were about
2.4 million citizens who had not sold
the shares) have received gains on
blocks of five NIS shares for 2012 in the
amount of 322 RSD (about 2.8 euros).
The NIS Board of Directors adopted
the decision to pay 25 per cent of the
overall profits to the company shareholders. If the 2012 NIS profits of 49.5
billion RSD are divided by the number
of shares, this gives us 75.83 RSD per
share. However, the state collects its
due here as well, so the calculation
shows that, when the dividend tax in
In 2013 the price of NIS
shares rose by
26%
the amount of 15 per cent is deducted,
the remaining net dividend amount per
share is 64.46 RSD.
Nenad Gujaničić is of the opinion that
NIS shares are undervalued compared
with the competitors from the region.
“As far as comparisons with other
companies go, you could say that NIS
is significantly undervalued compared with other petroleum companies.
However, this is largely a consequence
of the poor macroeconomic situation
here and of the fact that the domestic
capital market had been subjected
to deterioration for years, which has
resulted in the pronounced mistrust
of the few domestic as well as foreign
investors. Despite this, the value of NIS
shares has been steadily rising in the
past years.
In terms of market capitalization, NIS
is the largest company on the Belgrade
Stock Exchange; last year it was also
the most liquid share, i.e. the security with the highest turnover. This is
certainly important for the company
but, unfortunately, a very poorly developed market and a small number of
top portfolio investors have led to the
average daily turnover of shares in 2013
of only about 11 million RSD, which in
turn points to the shallowness of the
local market. This has also contributed
to the fact that NIS shares were quoted
significantly higher than those of the
company’s counterparts – similar companies on other stock exchanges.
17
18
interview
interview
investments to
combat the crisis
Vadim Yakovlev, Deputy Chairman
of the Board, First Deputy CEO
of “Gazprom Neft” and Chairman of
the Board of Directors, answers some
questions for Energize
Vadim Vladislavovich, as the Chairman of the Board
of Directors of NIS you represent the interests of the
majority shareholder. How would you characterize the
activity of NIS from the perspective of a top manager
of Gazprom Neft? In the capacity of a representative of
Gazprom Neft, are you satisfied with the results of NIS’s
activity in 2013?
Concerning the results of the business activity of NIS, let me
point out the major facts - even despite the crisis, the company has managed to maintain the stability of the crucial
financial indicators - profit and EBIDTA. For us it means that
the company has succeeded in finding the most effective
ways to develop even under less than perfect conditions. As
a representative of the majority shareholder I find it highly
encouraging and heart-lifting, since the company is clearly
capable of functioning effectively.
Speaking of 2013’s results, I find it important that against
the background of a growth of the tax burden of 30%, NIS
has managed, as in the previous year, to fulfill a very significant investment program and improve key indicators of the
company’s operations. Permanent development, implementation of new technologies, mastering of best practices, entry
into new markets, assimilation of new business directions
- all of these are a guarantee of business stability.
A short while ago it was 5 years since transmission of NIS
management rights to the team of Gazprom Neft. I would
like to say a few words about our achievements since then.
Based on results from 2010, the company was already
profitable; for these five years we have managed to double
the volume of oil and gas production and, most important
of all, in 2012 NIS successfully completed the first stage of
modernization of NIS refining capacities, which enabled the
company to make a full transition to the production of Euro
- 5 fuels. For me, as a representative of a majority shareholder of NIS, the fact that the company is listed on the stock
exchange and is the only blue chip company on the Serbian
securities market is of high importance. And we take special
pride in having paid out the first dividends to shareholders
of NIS in 2013, of which over 2 million are inhabitants of
Serbia.
19
20
interview
interview
It stands to reason that the root cause is the economic crisis still raging in
Europe because it prompts corporate and private clients to decrease their
costs, inclusive of fuel ones. As a consequence, the competition for consumers
is growing, which does not contribute to facilitating market situation
2013 was an exceedingly complicated year for Southeast Europe on the whole and Serbia in particular. Has the
charged economic situation had an impact on cooperation
between shareholders of NIS? What is your view of collaboration with the Government of Serbia within NIS?
The economic situation in the region is quite complicated
indeed. The motor fuel market has been shrinking for several
consecutive years. Negative trends have been affecting not
only Serbia, consumption has been decreasing steadily in
Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and other countries. It stands to
reason that the root cause is the economic crisis still raging
in Europe because it prompts corporate and private clients
to decrease their costs, inclusive of fuel. As a consequence,
the competition for consumers is growing, which does not
contribute to a facilitating market situation.
In the light of this, the logic of our partner, the Government of
Serbia, is clear in increasing the business tax burden in order
to accumulate budget resources. We had a lot of understanding of that step; furthermore, the NIS Board of Directors
adopted the decision to increase the amount of dividends
paid out to shareholders from 15% to 25%, which resulted in
tax revenue in the amount of Euro 35 million. On the whole,
the contribution of NIS to the revenue side of Serbia’s budget
in 2013 exceeded 14%.
I take a favourable view of the cooperation with our partners
representing the interests of the second largest shareholder
within NIS, the Republic of Serbia. I would like to highlight
a significant role that the two independent members of the
Board of Directors of NIS have to play. They render solid assistance to setting shared objectives for the strategic development
of our company, which is acceptable for our shareholders.
Our long-term priority is the sustainable development of the
company, and its transformation into a reagional efficiency
leader. In this domain the interests of all shareholders of NIS
converge. It is impossible to execute these large-scale plans
without a long-term strategy, and that is exactly the reason
why right now we are finalizing the development of NIS’s 2030
strategy. It will help NIS to correctly select its development
path even under conditions of a less than favourable external
economic environment.
In your opinion, what has NIS gained from its partnership with Gazprom Neft, which has lasted for over five
years now? What strengths has the Serbian company
acquired? What is NIS within the structure of Gazprom
Neft - is it a “growth spurt”, a testing ground for new
technologies and practices, or a foothold for developing
its business in Europe?
In 2009, NIS itself was in the middle of a system-wide crisis,
therefore the key advantage that NIS gained was access to
funds crucial for execution of its investment program. Let me
put it this way, the main advantage was that Gazprom Neft
executed all its investment obligations to modernize capacities it had assumed by signing the Agreement on the Sale and
Purchase of 51% of NIS shares.
We have invested around 5 billion euros in all directions of
company development - exploration and production, refining,
sales and distribution. Without Gazprom Neft, execution of
these projects would have proved simply impossible, including modernization of the NIS Refinery in Pancevo valued at
500 million euros.
However, a financial resource is far from the only thing that
Gazprom Neft has contributed to NIS. It is also a matter of
corporate practices on a European level, modern marketing tools, up-to-date technologies of oil refining, exploration
and production. What matters most is that NIS now has a
strategic partner interested in the stable development of the
company, its transformation into the most efficient player in
the regional market. In its turn it enables NIS to both develop
the geography of its presence, and master new directions of
its operations, for example, energy and development of unconventional hydrocarbon resources, such as the Gaj viscous
oil field. For Gazprom Neft, NIS is a “window of opportunities”
for the development of projects in the Balkans. We are currently operating in Bulgaria and Romania, EU member-states,
as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a potential EU country.
We make very active use of cross-company training: specialists from all departments of NIS are assigned to facilities
of Gazprom Neft, whereas their Russian counterparts gain
experience working at the Balkan assets.
The technological aspect is worth a separate note. Wellestablished cooperation between the scientific-technological
centers of NIS and Gazprom Neft enables us to successfully
implement in Serbia the technologies we use in Russia, as well
as to test new technical ideas in NIS capacities and transfer
them to the mother company further on. The example of smallhole drilling technology abundantly illustrates my point, since it
significantly increases the efficiency of exploratory drilling.
How important are new technologies for exploration
and production to Gazprom Neft?
We constantly develop the experience of applying new
technologies and we circulate it in our projects. Based on the
results of last year I can justifiably say that Gazprom Neft is
the technological leader of the Russian oil and gas industry, mainly in terms of the number of executed innovative
technological operations. It is hardly a secret for anyone that
the era of light oil is over; tight and unconventional reserves
are in the spotlight now. These projects become feasible and
cost effective due to application of new technologies. That
is exactly the reason why Gazprom Neft has increased the
number of high-tech wells within the total drilling volume
from 4% to 35%.
21
22
interview
interview
What impact has the cooperation with Gazprom Neft
had on the technical development of NIS, primarily in
the area of exploration and production?
In the first place, a decline in production that had been dominating for the previous twenty years was brought to a halt
by 2009. It stands to reason that access to new technologies
largely contributed to that, access that the Serbian company
had been previously denied for a number of reasons.
Since 2009 the Exploration and Production division of NIS has
been applying horizontal drilling technologies (they make it
possible to develop tight hydrocarbon reserves; the production of a well of this type was launched in the region in 2013),
small hole drilling (this technology helps to reduce working
time and costs).
However, a financial resource is far
from everything “Gazprom Neft” has
contributed to NIS. It is also a matter
of corporate practices of European level,
modern marketing tools, up-to-date
technologies of oil refining, exploration
and production
We cooperate with leading service companies like Schlumberger and Halliburton. They assist us in geological modeling
and well targeting. We increasingly develop this competence
inside our company. After we implement these innovations
in our wells, we proceed with applying the acquired experience in other assets. For example, last year we drilled over 230
horizontal wells, which is three times higher than in 2012. A
horizontal hole we drilled in the Serbian field of Kikinda Varos
is one of these highly successful projects.
We estimate that by 2020 over 50% of our oil will be produced
with the help of new technologies. It is thus apparent to us
that innovations boost our business efficiency, provide a tangible competitive edge, and enable us to execute the projects
that were seemingly unfeasible a few years ago.
On a separate note, in 2014 we started drilling with Dewatering modules, which help to significantly reduce associated
environmental risks. In the process of implementation of all
these technologies engineers from NIS work closely with their
Russian counterparts, which results in a new experience for
each party that finds its practical application in their work.
What place do production projects outside Russia
take in the activity of Gazprom Neft? What countries do
you consider priorities for this direction?
Let me reiterate that the Balkan region is of strategic importance to us. One of our potential projects is entry into
Croatia; the Croatian government is in the process of bidding
preparation for oil and gas fields, and we strongly intend to
participate in them.
However these projects are not the only projects that
Gazprom Neft is implementing beyond Russia. As a part of a
consortium of several companies we have operations in Venezuela, where we are preparing for commercial development
of a gigantic field, Khunin - 6, whose recoverable reserves are
estimated at 10 billion barrel of oil. In the Middle East we are
executing several projects in Iraq. This year the production
in the province of Vassit of the Badra field will start; geological exploration is being performed at three more blocks in
the territory of Iraqi Kurdistan. The long-term strategy of
Gazprom Neft for 2020 presupposes that we will be producing around 10% of our hydrocarbon volume abroad, which
amounts to approximately 10 million barrels of oil equivalent
per year.
Do you think it is necessary to explore and produce
non-conventional hydrocarbon resources?
All major companies are currently involved in development
of tight and non-conventional reserves; our company is not
an exception here. Exploration of shale oil in Russia is among
these projects - the so-called Bazhenovsk-Abalaksk complex
in Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Area has colossal resource
potential. Undoubtedly, Russia is only at the start of shale oil
development, and this kind of work will require new competencies and a new set of skills from our specialists.
What is the current situation with proven hydrocarbon reserves in Gazprom Neft? Can we affirm a stable
growth of this parameter? How can it be maintained?
Why is this indicator crucial for any oil producing company?
As of the end 2013, Gazprom Neft has proven recoverable reserves in the amount exceeding 1.34 billion tons of oil equivalent, compared to the end of 2012 they have grown by almost
12%; proven recoverable oil reserves have grown by almost 5%
to 960.6 million tons. Taking into account our production level
- 62.2 million tons of oil equivalent - we were able to increase
reserves three times more than hydrocarbon production.
Therefore current reserves-to-production ratio, in compliance
with international classification developed by the Association
of Petroleum Engineers, is over 20 years; we are one of the 20
biggest petroleum companies in the world according to the
volume of reserves.
And the last question, what strategic directions of
the future cooperation between NIS and Gazprom Neft
do you see? What priorities do you see for the development of NIS?
We have several major projects that are either being executed
at the moment or are intended for execution in the foreseeable future. First and foremost, it is development of the premium PS network under the GAZPROM brand. It goes without
saying that competition is very tough in this market segment,
so we will need to put forth very significant effort to claim our
piece of this pie.
Continuation of modernization of the company’s refining
capacities is of similar importance for us. Here we can speak
about mild hydro cracking at Pancevo Refinery and construc-
It is thus apparent to us that innovations
boost our business efficiency, provide
palpable competitive edge, enable to
execute the projects that were seemingly
unfeasible a few years ago
tion of a base oils production centre at Novi Sad Refinery.
Investments in these projects are comparable to the funds invested in the MHC/DHT complex, around Euro 500 million. It
is of utter importance for us to accumulate refining efficiency
since under conditions of excess capacities we observe in
the region one can only become competitive due to constant
development.
Gazprom Neft also strongly intends to cooperate with NIS in
the directions of fuel supply for regional airports, ship fuelling, and construction of power generation capacities.
With regards to prospects of NIS development, NIS is facing
multiple challenges. Firstly, it is the economic crisis I have
mentioned earlier that has an impact on all business and
economic entities of the region. I can give an example of the
debts of Serbian public companies - despite all our efforts and
the understanding that was reached with the Cabinet of Ministers of Serbia, resolution of this issue is still unforthcoming.
Secondly, it is the outset of the Serbian EU integration process
that leads to adjustment of normative documents, and the
introduction of new regulations, which calls for focused attention and significant resources.
Thirdly, it is the development of new activities and territories.
These processes require thoughtful preparation, and investments without immediate returns. For example, the first wind
farm in Serbia, Plandiste, whose construction started in 2013,
is of high importance both for us and the whole of Serbia.
With the help of this project the country will be able to fulfill
EU normatives of power generation from renewable energy
sources. The project of rational natural gas usage is of similar
priority - we intend to make optimum use of all possibilities
and resources available to the company.
23
24
Dossier
DosIJE
Challenges in Carbon
Dioxide Emission Reduction
Faced by Oil Companies
Games
Without
Boundaries
by Ana Krajnc
Dossier
Under pressure from national legislation
and the international environmental
community, oil companies the world over
invest increasing amounts of money
and effort in painting their image green.
Owing to their extensive knowledge and
experience in the area of geophysics, they
could become the bearers of CCS
(Carbon Capture and Storage)
projects in the world
Mankind’s energy needs have been on
the rise and, regardless of the warnings
of guardians of the environment, fossil
fuels will not be yielding ground to renewable sources of energy for a number
of decades to come. On the other hand,
the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) announced in Stockholm in November 2013 that, if the world
does not cut carbon dioxide emissions, in
30 years global warming will reach a critical point of two degrees Celsius.
The oil and gas industries are among
the top greenhouse gas sources as well
as electric power consumers. The British newspaper The Guardian recently
publicized research which shows that
90 energy companies are responsible for
over 65 per cent of total carbon dioxide
emissions in the world, from the Industrial Revolution to the present day.
Ways in which oil
companies contribute
to CО₂ emission
reduction:
• Increasing energy efficiency
• Trading CО₂ emission credits
• New technologies in CО₂- CCS
– (Carbon Capture and Storage).
• Biofuels and other types of fuel,
increasing fuel quality
• Transition to renewable energy
sources
25
26
Dossier
Under the pressure of national legislations and the international environmental community, oil companies the world
over invest increasing amounts of money and effort in painting
their image green. In point of fact, the developed nations direct
more and more of their investments aimed at technologies
which should contribute to CO2 emission reduction towards
carbon capture and storage.
Dirk Smit, Vice President of the oil company Royal Dutch
Shell, and Head of their Exploration Technology Division,
pointed out recently that it was the oil companies that
might become the bearers of such projects in the world, owing to their extensive knowledge and experience in the area
of geophysics.
Strategies for
the future
According to Lidia Hrnčević of the Zagreb Institute of
Petroleum Engineering, considering climate change issues
in laying out oil company business strategy has become
necessary in order for a company to remain competitive in
the global market.
According to the data of the American Petroleum Institute
published in September 2013, in the US the oil and gas
companies are the biggest investors in technologies contributing to the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases.
As the data suggests, the petroleum industry set aside
about $81 billion for that purpose between 2000 and 2012.
All other industries have invested $91.2 billion, and the US
Government $79.7 billion. In addition, American gas and
oil companies invested in the same period of time about
$11.4 billion in renewable energy sources. On the other
hand, in Europe the oil companies have started to voice
their concern over difficult conditions. For example, Total
CEO, Christophe de Margerie, said in a statement for the UK
edition of the International Business Times that European
oil companies will close more refineries in the next several
years due to diminishing demand and high carbon dioxide
emission reduction targets. In 2012, four more refineries
were closed in Europe, and the closing of an additional
three was announced.
Aleksandar Jovović, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of
Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade, has pointed out that
the oil companies in the Balkans fall behind the companies
conducting business in the EU in terms of investments in
projects which help reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Dossier
European directive and
Serbian legislation
On January 23, 2014, the European Commission presented
new climate and energy objectives of the EU for the period
until 2030. The new policy proposed by the Commission
for the global climate summit in Paris in 2015 sets out to
reduce CO2 emissions to 40 per cent below their 1990 levels,
and puts forward a 27 per cent share of renewable energy
sources. At the present moment, harmful gas emissions into
the atmosphere are 18 per cent lower than in 1990, while the
share of renewable energy sources is just under 13 per cent.
The long-term goals of the EU are
the reduction of harmful gases by
80 to 95 per cent by 2050, with respect
to their 1990 levels
Serbian legislation currently does not have provisions directly limiting CO2 emissions. The Serbian Ministry of Energy,
Development, and Environmental Protection says that some
of the directives from the EU climate and energy package
have been transposed into Serbian laws and regulations, and
that the implementation of these directives will result in
the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. As the Ministry
spokespersons say, the possibility and potential methods of
implementing one of the remaining EU directives, the Directive on the Emissions Trading System, are being assessed.
Also, preparations for the transposition of the part of EU
legislation to do with car emissions have been initiated. The
Fuel Quality Directive, along with regulating biofuel sustainability, is geared toward drastic cuts in the sulphur content
of fuels. It is precisely for this reason that the EU countries
are leading the way in terms of the lowest fuel sulphur
content in the world. According to the 2013 annual survey
of Hart Energy, based in Houston, of the 100 countries of the
world covered in the survey, fuel sulphur content is the lowest in Germany, and the EU countries dominate the top 50
places. All the countries, both EU and non-EU, are required
to gradually bring the sulphur content down to the 10mg/
kg limit but, according to Vasil Katincharov, EU expert for
fuel quality, countries can negotiate for themselves different
transitional periods within which they must start implementing the European regulations.
NIS complies
with the
principles of
sustainable
development
Although the Serbian legislation has
not been completed yet, NIS has been
preparing for the international community’s CO2 reduction requirements,
which will certainly cross national
borders in the decade to come.
NIS has committed itself to the strategy
of conducting business in line with the
principles of sustainable development,
by minimizing the negative impacts
it may have on the environment and
people’s health, as well as by continual
improvements and efficient management of the system of environmental
protection, industrial safety, and occupational health and safety.
By implementing various project
aimed to reduce harmful substance
emissions into the air, water, and soil,
reduce the amount of generated waste,
increase energy efficiency and the use
of renewable sources, remediate the
historical and accidental pollution, as
well as implement the technical and
technological measures in line with the
best available techniques, the Company
confirms in practice its commitment to
environmental protection.
NIS Energy began a new research project this year. The project has to do with
testing and application of new technologies in the area of CO2 leakage prevention. Gas in reservoirs and tanks (which
are slowly built around the world with
the aim of reducing the emission into
the atmosphere) can leak through the
wells or faults and cracks in rocks. Gas
moving towards the surface in this
manner can be very dangerous in terms
of health and safety.
Igor Korać, Deputy Director of NIS
Energy, points out that last year NIS
applied for participation in the EU “FP7”
programme as a company with 40-plus
years of experience in the CO2 leakage
problem in the Bečej gas field.
“The leakage had been there since a
major drilling accident from as far back
as 1968, up until 2007, when a project
of rebuilding the faulty well at Bečej
was designed in collaboration with a
scientific institute in Miskolc, Hungary.
To that end, a directional remediation
well was drilled through which several
thousand cubic meters of waterglass,
gel, and other chemicals were injected
in order to prevent further leakage of
carbon dioxide into shallower layers.
The project was a success, the leakage
NIS has over
“
40 years of experience in
solving the problem
of CO 2 leakage
”
Igor Korać,
Deputy Director
of NIS Energy
27
28
Dossier
Dossier
similar projects around the world, where the role that NIS
has is important precisely because of the Bečej experience.
The second part has to do with the management of the migration of gas in the reservoir, aimed to detect a possible CO2
leak. The third part of the project has to do with leakages
through the faults or cover rocks (the roof of the reservoir,
the rocks which are the upper boundary of the reservoir),
and the fourth part has to do with leakages through wells.
The fifth part is the also the final part of the project, in
which the remediation methods and the technologies (chemicals) which can be used in stopping leaks will be presented.
Lastly, as a result of the project, a book will be published
containing various models of leakages and the remediation methods. It should also be added that, in addition to its
global importance, this project is exceptionally important
for NIS in particular, because in this way we will acquire new
knowledge on how to solve this problem more efficiently and
cheaply. Even though we successfully completed the 2007 remediation, that doesn’t mean that the remediation will last
forever. In such temperature and pressure conditions, over
time a new leakage can occur. This project will enable us
to learn how to solve this quickly, efficiently, and economically,” Korać concludes.
In order to remove CO 2 and other
impurities from natural gas, NIS will be
using the HiPACT technology, which has
not been previously used in Europe
was stopped, which is confirmed by measuring pressure
in the monitoring well. As far as I know, we were a unique
case in the world at the time, because no one had had such
an uncontrolled eruption or a reservoir gas leakage that
lasted for years. Of course, this very fact makes us all the
more unique in terms of the technology used to remediate
the leakage, because we have no information on whether
anybody else in the world has done that. Perhaps something
similar has been done, but drilling a special-purpose well to
stop the leakage, you just don’t see that in the literature,”
Korać says.
According to Korać, the project is divided into six parts. The
first part has to do with the exchange of experiences with
The project of constructing a wind farm in Plandište, with
a capacity of 102 MW and 34 wind generators, has a special
status in the plans of NIS and NIS Energy. This project will be
the first of its kind in Serbia, and will enable the country to
go a long way towards achieving the EU standards regarding
the integration of green energy into the state energy balance,
as defined in the EU directives. The government of Serbia has
already adopted the strategy for the development of renewable energy sources, in line with which the share of environmentally clean energy in 2020 should be at least 29 per cent
of the total consumption volume.
With the construction of this wind farm, Serbia is getting
closer to achieving the standards of European energy policy
in the area of “green” energy use, the pressure on the environment is reduced, and NIS business efficiency increased
by reducing the costs of purchasing CO2 credits. It is for this
reason that the Plandište wind farm project is registered
with the UN as part of the Clean Development Mechanism project, which enables collaboration with the aim of
reducing pollution. In addition, projects are implemented
in the area of oil refining which aim to reduce harmful gas
emissions. By implementing the project of adding water
and creating the water-heavy-fuel-oil emulsion during the
combustion of heavy fuel oil at the primary refinery facilities (atmospheric and vacuum distillation) of NIS Refining,
the emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx) have been reduced by
over 20 per cent. As part of this environmentally-motivated
investment, economic savings have been made in the utilization of water vapour. In addition, at the beginning of the
year, another important environmental project has been
implemented at NIS refining – the automated system for
dosing urea into the Pančevo Refinery power plant boiler furnaces. By adding a 40-percent water solution of urea during
the combustion of heavy fuel oil in the Pančevo Refinery’s
power plant boiler furnaces, excellent results have been obtained in the area of environmental protection, and the level
of nitrous oxide emissions into the atmosphere have been
reduced by over 60 per cent.
The second project relevant to CO2 emission reductions is the
construction of the Amine Unit within the production complex of the Gas Refining Unit in Elemir.
The operation of the Amine Unit will enable the reduction of
CO2 content in the gas produced by NIS down to three per
cent, which is compliant with the technical requirements
for its use in the local gas distribution network in Serbia. As
Predrag Grujić, Director of the Production Unit for Prepara-
tion and Transport of Oil and Gas, says, “NIS will thus be in a
position to increase the quantity of natural gas delivered to
the Serbian market and, consequently, the profits from this
sort of business operation.“
Mr Grujić also points out that HiPACT (High Pressure Acid-gas
Capture Technology), one of the safest and most efficient existing technologies, not previously used in the Europe, will be
used to remove CO2 and other impurities from natural gas.
“The saving of heat and electric power, as well as the consumables expended in their application, could reach 25 per
cent, as compared with the previously used technologies,” Mr
Grujić adds.
The CO2 removed in the technological process will be stored in
Company oil wells prepared in advance, which will prevent its
leaking into the atmosphere.
The volume of investments intended for the construction
of the Amine Unit and the accompanying infrastructure is
about 30 million euros. Ludan Engineering LTD from Israel has
been selected as the project’s general contractor. The facility
construction works are planned to be finished in the second
quarter of 2014 at the latest.
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industry&bussiness
industry&bussiness
Tank-up Quality
A time of
change
by Uroš Popović
A belief lives on that there are service
an unenvied position on the fuel quality
stations to refuel at, and then there are
map. The lack of relevant legislation,
those to steer clear of. One would be
along with the failure to observe exist-
hard pressed to find a driver without a
ing laws, a poor inspection system, and
personal “tank-up success formula” en-
the negative impact from an economic
suring their vehicle’s longevity. If these
embargo, set the stage for illicit dealings
ideas could find some justification in
in the petroleum products market. In
the past, now it is perfectly clear that at
the aftermath of this turmoil the qual-
any petrol station we can find what we
ity nose-dived, which put off consumers
are looking for. Official figures are testa-
and spelled complications in daily fuel
ment to that.
handling.
Numerous processes reflect oil pro-
In that period Serbia suffered greatly
cessing industry’s focus on bringing
its output in line with the applicable
legal regulations and environmental
standards. The local power generation
industry has a lot to do to achieve the
leading countries’ level as the motor fuels quality directly affects not only car
engine service life, but exhaust gases
emissions and air quality.
First and foremost the reputation of
Serbia’s complete crude oil processing
industry is at stake, as it is compelled by
the current European integration processes to streamline and standardize the
offer of petroleum products and thus
regain consumers’ confidence. Compliance with legal requirements related to
liquid fuels is also crucial as car traffic is
by far the largest air pollutant.
Petroleum products quality is a matter far
beyond the realm of corporate interests.
Apart from bringing profit and boosting
professional reputation it has a direct
environmental impact, while at the same
time underpinning social responsibility
as there could be absolutely no comparison of its assortment on offer and
the fuel quality level with the counterparts in the neighbouring countries,
which was increasingly apparent to
all who travelled outside the country.
Reduced consumption, better performance and steady engine operation
when using foreign fuel made it clear
that Serbia was in a position much
worse than its economically developed
Sulphur
Sulphur content affects wear and tear
on an engine and scale buildup, and
impairs particle filters and catalysts.The
real difference in quality and eco features is best demonstrated by the fact
that the permitted sulphur contents in
D2 Diesel is up to 10.000 mg/kg, while
in Euro Diesel the allowed concentration of sulphur is 10 mg/kg, ie, 1000 times
lower.
neighbours Slovenia and Hungary.
Serbia’s petroleum products market
has lately been on the rebound and is
evidently poised to catch up with those
countries further ahead in the EU accession process. Credible comparison
and position is still elusive, but compliance with respective standards has
unequivocally ensured the supply of
petrol stations across Serbia with fuel
Burden of
the Past
increasingly on a par with its counter-
The recent past, however, was com-
of 2014 clearly show that vague market
pletely different. There were not many
rules and fuel of unknown origin are
reasons encouraging optimism as in the
no more the name of the game. Quality
past two decades Serbia has occupied
is bound to ensue…
part available outside the country, in
EU market. Contemporary standards
may not be fully in place yet, but the
whole previous year and the beginning
Octane
Octane number determines resilience of
a gasoline type to detonation combustion, i.e. self-ignition. The higher the octanes number the stronger the resilience.
A higher octane number:
Protects the engine block
reduces detonation combustion
reduces fuel consumption
reduces noxious gases emissions
boosts engine power
31
industry&bussiness
32
industry&bussiness
Custom-made NIS
Quality available to all
The fuel selection at a NIS network filling
station currently includes:
In line with the overall modernization of the Company’s retail
network in the territory of Serbia and its expansion strategy in
the region, NIS is present in the market with two retail brands:
NIS Petrol and Gazprom. Mass-oriented NIS Petrol brand offers
to the consumers reliability, availability, contemporary standards of service and guaranteed quality of petroleum products.
NIS Petrol filling stations are most common in Serbia (325 retail
stores). Besides Serbia, NIS Petrol also works in Republika
Srpska, where it has eight petrol stations. For greater efficiency and increase of its business, in late 2012, NIS launched a
premium brand of petrol station - Gazprom in the retail market
in Serbia and the region. In Gazprom brand facilities, we offer
to the consumers the fuel of European standard, high quality
lubricants and other supplementary goods, wireless Internet
access and a rich menu at the restaurant including national
cuisine dishes. Today, Gazprom network in Serbia has 11 petrol
stations, 15 in Romania, 18 in Bulgaria and 28 in Bosnia and
Herzegovina. All new and refurbished gas stations have modern
multiplex devices and offer to the consumers European quality
products - Euro premium BMB95 and BMB98 , Euro Diesel and
auto -gas. The facilities are open 24 hours a day, have shops
with a wide selection of goods, are equipped with coffee bars
and restaurants with Internet access, large parking lots, playgrounds, and there are accesses to persons with disabilities.
Euro BMB 98 is equally intended for vehicles
of newer and older generations. According
to its characteristics, this fuel guarantees
more horsepower and improved fuel
economy compared to BMB 98.
Euro Premium BMB 95 is a fuel the composition of which meets precisely defined
Euro 5 emission standards. Designed for a
new generation of vehicles, it contributes
to their preservation and improvement of
the environment. When it comes to diesel
fuels, Euro Diesel distinguishes itself by its
quality in line with EU standards. It contributes to optimal vehicle performance,
reliable engine starting and steady engine
operation, even at low temperatures.
Together with these, quieter operation
and reduced fuel consumption give an
all-round picture of the features that fully
support the EN 590 standard.
As an alternative to conventional engine
fuels, NIS Petrol also offers to its consumers
LPG, adapted to modern machines. The
main advantages of LPG are its economy,
extended engine life and lower maintenance
costs. We should not ignore the environmental dimension, as well as complementarity with EU 589 standard. NIS recently began producing gasoline with a higher octane
rating i.e. BMB 100, which contributes to
better engine performance, its prolonged
operating life and reduced emissions.
.
Double Check
The quality and origin of petroleum
products undergo dual scrutiny. Administrative examination focuses on record
companies will benefit by having their
reputations assured. In addition to the
Progress
Acknowledged
increased budget revenues, motorists
Clear-cut globally implemented measures brought about evi-
will also benefit from fuel marking, as
dent improvement. Specifically, the renowned Hart Energy
they will be sure of the adequate qual-
Research&Consulting has confirmed that 15 countries, with
ity of fuel they purchase.
Serbia at their helm, have improved their ranking in 2013
keeping, appropriate documenting and
The latest in nanotechnology has been-
test reporting. The so-called sampling fol-
involved in the fuel marking process.
lows. An advanced marking program has
Dedicated chemicals are applied to the
recently been introduced to streamline
fuel in this procedure, which do not
and remove deficiencies of the faulty
compromise quality but make it pos-
quality control procedure so far in place.
sible to establish if the fuel is bootleg or
belongs to a legal batch in compliance
This mandatory activity for petroleum
with the current quality standards. It
processing adds indicator substances
is reckoned that between five and ten
to mark every quantity of petroleum
per cent of fuel annually sold in Serbia’s
products either produced in Serbia or
market originates from illegal sources.
imported. The monitoring is to com-
NIS has been instrumental in putting in
prise all service stations in the country.
place these procedures aimed at bring-
The marking procedure is so efficient
ing clear-cut rules for market function-
that it shortly detects any illicit blend-
ing. The Company staff is hopeful to
ing on the spot.
continue cooperation in its further effort to adopt the required measures and
Fuel marking will ensure the supply of
streamline the legislation in the quest
the market with petroleum products
to stamp out the grey market. Although
of the appropriate quality by using
fuel marking increases the expendi-
certified methods to expose any illegal
ture both to producers and retailers,
blending.
NIS shall, as it so far did, make every
effort to heavily draw on its internal
In the aftermath, the state will benefit
resources to offer competitive prices to
tremendously in terms of revenues, and
the market.
due to reducing sulphur content in Diesel fuel. In Serbia, the
reform is about offering fuel without sulphur (in quantities
below one tenth of a million) since last August which has
resulted in an image boost concerning the fuel quality. According to the International Fuel Quality Center, by reducing sulphur levels Serbia joined 47 other countries, whose
effective legislation stipulates modern and environmentally
determined Diesel fuel.
Modernization of NIS’s refining in Pancevo has certainly
contributed to this as it has enabled NIS to fully switch to
NIS has the largest this network
is of petrol stations in Serbia,
and since 2012 thisnetworks is
actively expanding in the region
the production of environmentally clean fuel - unleaded
petrol and Euro diesel with a sulphur content not exceeding
10 ppm, which corresponds to the “Euro 5” standard.
NIS Petrol
Gazprom
Commissioning of the modernized
Pancevo Refinery has given Serbia
a continuous supply of top quality fuel
that fully complies with
the Euro-5 standard
Romania
14
B&H
28
Serbia
325 11
Bulgaria
18
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industry&bussiness
industry&bussiness
Let Experts
Have TheIr Say
- In recent years, the quality of petroleum products
improved in the wake of revamped petroleum products
processing within NIS and a great care that major fuel
importers dedicate to quality control – asserts Dr Dragoslava
Stojiljković, a fulltime professor at the Belgrade University
Mechanical Engineering Department.
A fuel quality expert, Dr Dragoslava Stojiljković, draws attention to other daily hindrances to top quality.
- Unfortunately, problems in daily operations are still apparent. They emerge in the aftermath of illicit blending of
various substances with crude originating fuels with the aim
to evade the payment of excise duties and VAT. It is for that
reason that faulty engine operation happens. Region-wise,
year in, year out programmes have been endorsed in Croatia,
for example, to monitor fuel quality control in compliance
with EN14274 Standard, which stipulates a minimum of samples to undergo compulsory control – Ms Stojiljković says.
The Revamp
*Euro 5 Standards
strictly stipulate:
5
For gasoline and natural gas
or LPG-powered vehicles:
The revamped refining in the town of
Pančevo is a vestige of modern trends.
Before 2013 the Pančevo Refinery was
focused on the production of gasoline
and Diesel meeting the requirements
of Euro 5 Standard. In the wake of new
complex launch the annual production
volume of Euro 5 Standard gasoline
went up significantly. The company
emerged as the largest supplier of high
quality fuel in domestic market and a
significant exporter within the Balkans.
The best practical recognition is reflected in the fact that in 2013 D-2 Diesel
and BMB 95 gasoline, products incompliant with Euro 5 Standard, have become
a thing of the past…
Carbon Dioxide
1.000 mg/km
Total hydro carbonates:
100 mg/km
Non-methane
hydro carbonates
68 mg/km
Nitrogen dioxide (NOx)
Particles density
Combined emissions of
hydro carbonates and
nitrogen dioxide
Pertaining to Dieselpowered vehicles:
500 mg/km
NIS has taken part in the initiation
of control measures for the market
regulation and the Company expects
improvement of the legislative framework
to combat gray market
With a view to catch up with petroleum product sales lead-
60 mg/km
(25% lower than the
Euro 4 standard)
180 mg/km
(20% lower than the
Euro 4 standard)
5 mg/km
5 mg/km
(80% lower than the
Euro 4 standard)
230 mg/km
ers in the market, Serbia is poised to introduce a fuel quality
control monitoring system. Quality control is monitored by
taking samples from randomly picked refuelling stations in
winter and summer. The standard concerned stipulates not
less than one hundred samples for engine gasoline, i.e. Diesel
fuel in a season. Thus, consumers are invariably supplied with
quality fuel, while the suppliers, who fail to meet the required
standards, will be fined and their incompliant retail points
closed down. EU countries recommend that media take an active role in the process by timely informing the consumers of
the substandard refuelling stations.
How is fuel controlled
in the region
In Bosnia and Herzegovina there are two different methods
and approaches to this issue. In the Republica Srpska, the
law lays down the rules and methods of monitoring. Republic
inspectors perform quality monitoring in winter, summer and
in transitional periods beetween these two seasons. Independently and without prior notice, inspectors visit gas stations
in order to carry out the control. In the BiH Federation,
monitoring companies operate independently with authorized companies and the results of analysis are delivered to
authorized institutions (Inspectorate, Ministry). Bosnia and
Herzegovina has no fuel marker.
According to the Bulgarian legislation, companies conduct
quality control of all their petroleum products and biofuels
supplied in the tax warehouse for light fuel in Kostinbrod.
Chemical analyzes are performed by accredited companies
as required by the above mentioned legislation, after which a
Certificate of Quality is issued. All manufacturers and importers are obliged to issue a Declaration of Conformity based
on the results of Certificates of Quality in order to guarantee
that the quality of fuel that is sold in the Bulgarian market
meets legal requirements. Quality of fuel that is shipped from
the warehouse for internal purposes is controlled on a regular
basis. In terms of quality of fuel during the transition from one
season to another, all critical parameters of the retail stations
are controlled which constitutes seasonal quality control
at the Company’s petrol stations. In addition, in order to
guarantee the quality of fuel that NIS Petrol EOOD distributes
through the Gazprom gas stations network, the samples of
each shipment of light diesel and gasoline to be delivered to
third parties are stored and kept. These samples are checked
randomly.
At the time being, in Romania there is no obligation to mark
fuels, except when it comes to fuel intended for storage
business. In addition to the guarantees offered by suppliers,
NIS Petrol Romania, for example, also started the procedure
of contractual engagement of independent auditors to check
and monitor the quality of fuel which is sold at the Gazprom
filling stations Gazprom, on a monthly basis.
In addition, procedure of fuel dispensing at petrol stations is
very strict in order to entirely avoid contamination. With the
help of on-site top quality equipment, any contamination is
immediately detected as the alarms which register changes
in water and density are triggered if predetermined levels are
exceeded.
35
36
region
ARRIVAL OF
YOUNG LIONS
by Oana Nisioi
Established in 2011 in
Romania, NIS Petrol has
a long-term development
strategy for the local market,
both for the upstream
and the downstream sector,
in line with the program
implemented by its majority
shareholder, NIS
region
NIS Petrol Romania focuses on two main areas of activity: exploration and production, and sale of a wide range of
oil products. The Company aims to become an integrated
regional oil producer and supplier, with key presence in refining (benefiting from the synergies with its majority shareholder in Serbia), exploring and extracting, as well as selling
and distributing oil products to the local market in Romania.
The Company has become involved in the area of exploration and production in Romania, and signed cooperation
agreements with companies winning the tender in the 10th
Licensing Round of the National Agency for Mineral Resources (NAMR) for conventional oil and gas exploration, development and production. All blocks are located in Western
Romania, near the border with Serbia, thus providing a general logistical advantage as well as quick access to an oil-rich
area. All Company activities are in strict compliance with the
most stringent environmental protection regulations and all
the relevant legislation in Romania and the European Union.
“We are committed to continuing our development in
Romania, in full compliance with the strictest environmental regulations and the requirementts of population safety
and security,” NIS Petrol Romania General Manager, Vadim
Smirnov, said in a statement.
NIS Petrol cooperates on three farm-out and joint operation agreements with four companies in Romania: East West
Petroleum (EWP) – Canada, Zeta Petroleum Romania (Zeta)
– UK, Armax Gaz (Armax) – Romania, and Moesia Oil and Gas
(Moesia) – Ireland. All operations are carried out in compliance with the highest environmental standards and using
cutting-edge technology.
NIS APPROVAL FOR
EXPLORATION
In January this year, the National Agency for Mineral Resources (NAMR) approved the transfer of an 85% share from
East West Petroleum (EWP) to NIS Petrol in acquired rights
and assumed obligations related to the Petroleum Agreements for three concession blocks. NIS Petrol is now ready
to start prospecting for crude in the three blocks, in compliance with the current legislation and observing the deadlines
stipulated under the Minimum Working Program in the
Petroleum Agreements.
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region
Training programs
for personnel
in filling stations
From November 2013 onwards, the Retail and HR Sectors in
Romania have been developing a training program and organizing weekly training sessions for staff at filling stations, focusing on delivering premium customer experience, as well as on
increasing staff know-how.
Training sessions are organized using internal resources and
are meant to become an ongoing tool for increasing quality
of services, unifying the approach to customers throughout
the network, ensuring compliance with corporate policies and
standards, and facilitating coordination and activity control.i.
region
No More Secrets
In order to boost the level of confidence of local authorities and population, the National Agency for Mineral
Resources called on the holders of
petroleum licensees to declassify the
petroleum agreements, which are
confidential according to the legislation. NIS Petrol, along with its partner
East West Petroleum agreed upon this
measure, strongly believing that this
will facilitate the permitting process of
access to public and private lands for
seismic prospecting activities.
New fiscal
challenges in
2014
Vasile Iuga, Managing Partner at PwC
The year 2014 brings new challenges
very beginning, and the the investor
for the major oil industry players in
takes all the risk.”
South-Eastern Europe holds that “A
system of oil and gas royalties with
differentiatied quotas allows exploitations of marginal oil reservoirs. Such a
system brings stable and guaranteed
revenues to the state budget from the
the Romanian market. The Romanian
government is planning to increase
Another new fiscal policy to affect the
the royalties paid by companies for the
oil companies is the so called “pole tax”,
production of oil and gas. At present,
a new tax on special buildings, bringing
companies must pay a scaled royalty
additional expenses for all major oil
ranging from 3.5 to 13.5 percent of
companies. Rompetrol Group estimates
oil and gas production, depending on
the impact of the new tax at $10 mil-
the quantities extracted. In the 2004
lion, and Petrom, the biggest player on
Petrom privatization contract, the
the market, forecasts that the new tax
Romanian government agreed to leave
will be 70 to 100 million euros per year.
the royalties unchanged for 10 years, a
As regards the retail business, the nov-
period of time which expires next year.
elty of 2014 is the introduction of an ad-
After that, the Romanian authorities
ditional excise duty of 7 eurocents per
are planning to raise royalty taxes to
liter of fuel. In 2013, the market shrunk
by an estimated 1-2 percentage points.
Downstream
Changes in the Market
14-20% (the latter percentage being the
sector attractive for foreign investors.
”We expect a certain recovery, because
NIS Petrol entered the downstream sector at the end of 2012, by
opening its first petrol station in Vestem, near the city of Sibiu,
under the GAZPROM brand. The strategy of the Company is to
expand its presence in Romania.
Called “young wolves” by Ziarul Financiar, the leading
business daily in Romania, GAZPROM and SOCAR, the
Azeri oil company, are two new players on the retail
market predicted to make a change, in contrast to the
Romanian market’s traditional players. Having entered
the retail market recently, they have provoked a response
on the part of the traditional companies, who have started
to take action by building new petrol stations, rebranding
the old ones, and bringing in new concepts to secure their
market share.
From the oil companies’ viewpoint, the
the number of cars per thousand
decision-makers should focus less on
inhabitants in Romania is not among
state budget revenues, and more on
the highest in Europe. Once the living
balancing the taxation level in order
standard rises, we expect the number
to stimulate production. It is generally
of cars per household to follow the
acknowledged that companies would
same trend,” Ileana Baltatu, Down-
require a predictable fiscal policy in
stream Executive Director, and NIS
order to plan their future investments.
Petrol Deputy CEO, said.
“The experience we accumulated in our first year of activity in
Romania has proved that the format that we have implemented
is a success. We have reached the point when the sales in our
stations in Romania are in line with the sales of the other stations present on the market,” Vadim Smirnov said.
The Company chose a premium format of the petrol stations
selling high-quality fuels, oils, and lubricants, and an assortment of non-fuel products. Moreover, GAZPROM petrol stations
offer a broad range of additional services, such as Wi-Fi and
internet connection.
So far, the company has 15 petrol stations in Romania, located
in Arad, Oradea, Timisoara, Sibiu, the A1 Highway, Caldarusanca
– E85, and Clinceni – Bucharest ring. This year, NIS Petrol set the
target of doubling the number of GAZPROM petrol stations in
Romania, which would lead to a market share of 10% after 2015.
“Certain changes can be felt in the structure of the retail
market, and this does not refer only to the small networks
and the private owners,” Ileana Baltatu, Downstream Executive Director and NIS Petrol Deputy CEO, said in a statement.
Regarding the maturity of the market, she holds that “Generally speaking, when companies no longer invest, there is no
more space for development on the market.” The conclusion
is that there is enough room for new entrants, and that it
is primarily consumers who will benefit from this kind of
market restructuring.
European average), in order to keep the
“ We are committed to
continuing our development
in Romania, in full
compliance with the strictest
environmental regulations
and the requirementts
of population safety and
security ”
Vadim Smirnov
NIS Petrol Romania
General Manager
“ The retail segment is very
dynamic,and our mission is
to provide our clients
with high-quality products
and services”
Ileana Baltatu
downstream Executive Director,
NIS Petrol Romania
39
40
hr
hr
Power generation industry is a realm offering
employment in production, transfer and distribution
of electricity and crude oil, consolidation with EU
power generation legislation, management, IT.
Lucrative remuneration packages and challenging
and creative work environment lure young hopefuls
to the companies of the industry
Power Generation Jobs
Opportunity
for Young
Professionals
by Ivana Ristić
One out of four Serbian citizens listed in the National Employment Agency’s files is younger than 30. The country’s economy
has no employment capacity for more than 200,000 youngsters. A
poll by Serbia’s Employers’ Association found that as many as 90
per cent of employers in 2014 would have no job opportunities for
the young. Other countries in the region are not any better.
The perseverant and the lucky still hold out hope, however.
The country’s Statistics Bureau deems those in the power
generation industry the lucky lot as they take home monthly
on average salary of E400. Workers in the crude processing
industry rank among the top earners here.
Scholarships are not rare occurrence in the oil industry –
Serbia’s Oil Industry, or NIS, has recently entered into contracts to foot the bill of the studies for high school students
and those in B.A and M.A. university programmes at Mining
Engineering Department.
21 high school students and 16 at Mining Engineering Department, including to M.A students, were granted scholarships.
Regular students with high academic performance qualify
for the extension of scholarship along with the opportunity
to subsequently come on the NIS staff.
NIS has long been funding Mining Engineering students
with the recent upsurge in the volume, the best will be
offered to become our staff members. NIS is to pursue its
cooperation with universities of Serbia and neighbouring
countries, where NIS has been expanding its operation and
where it plans to stage school competitions. NIS deems
it a long-term cooperation and investment. Young, savvy,
well-performing students will always be welcome in our
company to be involved in different projects delivered by
the company in Serbia, Russia and all other countries,
where Gazprom Neft operates, it was pointed out on the occasion in the address to the Faculty of Mining and Geology
students.
This prompted us to explore what job positions are in high
demand in the power generation and what is the general
employment outlook for this industry.
41
42
hr
The Leaders
Power generating corporations rank as the topmost three
among Adriatic region’s 50 top performing ones. Coface
Adriatic Balkan Top 50 List for 2012 places Croatian INA,
Slovenian Petrol and Serbian NIS as the region’s top three
companies in 2012 with the overall turnover to the tune of
almost €9 billion.
These oil and gas giants have ranked first in sales and
distribution activities carried out in the region (Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, and
Montenegro). This, together with anticipated investment in
the power generation, prompts new job opportunities in the
industry. Back in its 2011 report the International Monetary
Fund recorded the biggest employment upsurge in the region.
Henceforth, investment anticipation brings about hope for
“ There will be staffing requirements
in power production, transmission
and distribution sectors and in the oil
industry. However, the commencement
of pre-accession negotiations with the
European Union will create the need
for experts versed in monitoring EU
regulatory requirements. Should the
negotiations with the EU last for 10
years, companies would require experts
on monitoring harmonisation with
energy-related legislation ”
Dušan Daković
Energy Agency of the Republic of Serbia
hr
employment opportunities. Late last year, South East Europe
Energy Community, in its Belgrade session, adopted a Regional Energy Strategy comprising 35 projects to the tune of
assessed €30 billion. By 2030, Serbia alone is poised to invest
€9 billion into the electrical energy sector pursuant to its
power generation development strategy.
that by investing into the power generation and strategic
partnerships Serbia might as well emerge as trend setter in
the region’s market.
Experts In HIgh Demand
Companies’ employment schemes are testament to these assertions. NIS made some students’ wildest dreams come true
by offering them employment right after the graduation.
In a concerted effort with local municipalities and the National Employment Agency for the fifth consecutive year NIS
has been offering employment to the young.
Strategy-stipulated investment is to create new working
positions, recons Serbia’s Power Generation Agency.
According to its Dušan Daković, this is to emerge as the
most vibrantly expanding economy sector of the country. –
Fresh wave of investments is in store for us with an ensuing
demand for a plethora of experts – Daković is optimistic.
Daković indicates that demand for employees is to grow in
the production, transfer and distribution of electricity, oil
processing, and with EU accession talks under way, employment is in store for EU regulatory requirements savvy
professionals.
- Should the negotiation last for 10 years the corporate world
would develop demand for experts capable to follow-up
consolidation with energy legislation - says Daković, making
the point that it is a complete clean slate.
Further on, he indicates that, as the market grows more
open, power generation managers are to be in demand, as
corporate world fate would hinge on their appropriate advice. IT experts have great involvement with the industry, with
the technology boost they will be in an increasing demand.
In conclusion Daković ascertains that power generation will
be the best employment bet for different professions, as investments in food industry, energy and telecommunications
world over have been on an incessant rise.
Saša Đogović seconds the words of Daković. Mr Đogović is an
associate at the Market Research Institute and, in his opinion, there are great employment prospects in power generation as the country’s natural resources are quite underexplored, which prompts great employment opportunities in
the event of their intensified exploitation. Mr Đogović claims
- Serbia abounds in natural resources, only the fresh capital
lacks – Đogović contemplates.
What we recruit is the potential,
“
which subsequently needs to be shaped
into skills and knowledge. If they are
eager and vibrant enough to perfect their
professionalism, NIS is the best place
for them
”
Nataša Stamenković:
NIS HR Director
Why is the power generation industry the most profitable?
• Power generation companies invariably rank among
the most successful ones.
• Extensive investment iin store for the region’s power generation industry.
• With EU accession talks under way, employment is in store for savvy
professionals who will uphold EU regulations.
• The region’s energy natural resources are quite underexplored.
• The Eastern European energy sector is poised to grow,
as the potential for sky-high profits in
Western Europe is growing thin.
43
44
hr
hr
In the initial two years the Company acted as partner in a
programme dubbed “the First Chance”, which as of 2012
became “NIS Chance” with NIS as its main proponent, with
the support of Vojvodina’s local administrations.
As many as 700 young people were granted an opportunity
to acquire skills and professionally develop over the course
of that period.
industry, says that Switzerland, the country where he is
currently based, has the so called traders and business
developers in a very high demand.
- The most sought after professionals are in sales, the industry with the highest investment growth. Seasoned individuals capable to bring profitable contracts to companies
are required, - Katančević claims.
All apprentices freshly employed by the company have
been carefully selected pursuant to scrutinised academic
performance and outcome of company-staged tests, as well
as based on their interviews with executives and future
mentors to satisfy the company’s needs.
NIS HR Director Nataša Stamenković makes it clear that in
addition to the high university score the intensity of aspirations and ambition in these young professionals were pivotal for
their selection. – – claims Nataša Stamenković, and goes on to
say that almost 95 per cent of the young that NIS had employed
as part of its “NIS Chance” programme stay in the company.
The West European Way
With West European trends conquering the south east
portion of the continent, the power generation colleagues
would be right to hope for even better conditions. Aleksandar Katančević, an analyst with StrategaEast, with 13
years’ experience in the West European power generation
Katančević points out that employment in the power
generation in the West is found either in direct contacts
or through headhunting agencies. Changing job position entails great risk for an experienced and successful
business person, more often than not entailing the change
of country of residence, all this compensated in lucrative remuneration packages in this industry. A trader with
10 years’ experience in gas trading in the U.S. monthly
makes between $ 30.000 and $ 60.000 while their European
colleagues’ earn for the same job between € 8.000 and €
25.000 a month. Fresh university graduates in the West are
paid around € 3.700 per month when they start working in
power generation industry.
However, getting a good salary is not a walk in the park,
Katančević points out.
- These kind of jobs are risk-laden and are easily lost.
Employment contracts are flexible for both parties. Notice
period ranges from two to six months. Working conditions in West European energy corporations are typically
impeccable, but they are extremely stressful with working
WIshful ApprentIces
Ivan Šašić
Ljiljana Radonić
Well, expectations are naturally
great. NIS has been my first choice
and it became my first employment.
I am pretty content. This is a huge
corporate mechanism offering lots of
things to learn. I am eager to stay –
says Ivan Šašić.
- Terrific impressions. Tests and
interviews have been absolutely fair.
I am extremely satisfied. I am looking forward to learning so much, to
upgrade my skills and I think a fabulous
year is in store for me, which will see
my great contribution to the Company
and no less benefit for me – this is
how Ljiljana Radonić summed up and
shared her impressions.
hours stretching up to 12 hours, which
makes remuneration packages a sole
motivator. Professionals with university degree are most sought after,
their creativity and independence in
highest regard – Katančević explains.
Katančević recons that East European energy sector is poised to grow, as
chances for sky-high profit making
in West European companies are
growing thin.
- All the “places in the sun” have long
been taken there and with the crisis
decimating the consumption the energy companies’ revenues have been
shrinking. Way out is sought in world’s
emerging markets, South east Europe
being one of them.
He points out that the best employment chances in the regional energy
sector have individuals between 25
and 40, who are poised to bear the
brunt of market regulation, bringing
about energy efficiency and taking
responsibility for the ensuing risks.
- At this junction, power generating
corporations, regardless of their scale,
by no means can take profit making for
granted. Prudent management of own
resources is the only secure profit making vehicle – Katančević concludes.
Serbia’s HR Association Chairman
Nebojša Rako says that today companies rightfully seek more than mere
theoretisizing skills acquired over the
years of university studies. An apparent problem here is that the entire
education network absolutely cannot
cater to the corporate world needs.
- Young professionals start acquiring practical skills only with their
employers; this, however, ought to be
done as part of vocational practice for
students – Mr Rako maintains.
He goes on to say that it really goes
without saying that in addition to
university degree the employees are to
command good social skills, networking abilities, business judgement,
language and PC skills.
NIS is one good example of granting
employment to the young in the
energy realm. This company provided
an opportunity to as many as 700
inexperienced youngsters to have
their first employment thanks to the
“NIS Chance“ programme under way
for five years now.
Mr Rako opines that programmes of the
sort ought to be introduced as early as
at the inception of university studies to
pinpoint the most eligible future staffers.
45
46
Culture
Culture
42nd International Film Festival - FEST
It’s not all
black and white
For the fifth year
running, NIS was the
general sponsor of FEST,
held in Belgrade from
February 28 to March 9
The very first FEST, held 43 years ago,
kicked off rather spectacularly –Stanley
Kubrick’s Space Odyssey was screened,
then Easy Rider by Dennis Hopper,
Robert Altman’s Mash, as well as films
by such directors as Eric Rohmer, Luis
Buñuel, and Živojin Pavlović.
Although the first edition of FEST is
quite rightly, if nostalgically, considered
as unparalleled, the truth of the matter
is that in the following years we saw at
FEST the films that made the world’s
history of film.
Since its inception, FEST has always had
the main programme and a number
of accompanying programmes, whose quality has gone beyond the label
‘accompanying’. Many publications also
accompanied the festival, together with
exhibitions, and discussion fora held
during the festival. Nonetheless, the
central event, now as in the past, is the
main selection programme, alongside
the competition programme “Europe
Out of Europe”, started several years ago.
FEST has so far had around four million
viewers and nearly 4,000 films of global
importance, which have had their Yugoslavian (Serbian), oftentimes regional as
well, premiere at the festival.
In the words of Ivan Karl, 42nd FEST’s
selector, this festival has a positive
impact on the culture of going to the
cinema, endangered by the insufficient
number of film theatres and the younger
generation’s lack of habit of going to the
‘movies’.
“It is encouraging to hear that as many
as 100,000 people visit FEST in the space
of about ten days. This is five per cent
of the overall cinema market at the
annual level, which makes FEST the
most successful mass cultural event in
the country and the region. All of this,
including also favourable impressions
of foreign visitors, has an impact on the
positive image abroad.”
Karl adds that the films on offer between
festivals are good, because film distribution is organized well globally, but lack of
film theatres remains a problem.
“In Belgrade alone, only an eighth of the
number of film theatres has survived,
as compared to 1971, which was FEST’s
inception year,” Karl says.
Responding to the question on how
developed film industry in Serbia is, and
whether he expected the trend of shooting foreign film in Serbia to continue,
FEST 2014.
76
5
FILMS
BELGRADE
CINEMAS
films
premiered at
FEST
Karl says he does expect the trend to continue because there
do exist professionally educated and experienced industry
people, and, even more importantly, so does developed infrastructure.
“Film industry has had a long tradition in this country; however,
in order to make progress, especially with regard to foreign productions, it’s essential that all the elements in the chain work
and that the Law on Cinema is applied.”
For a number of years running, NIS has been the general
sponsor of this cult cultural event. Karl confirms that the link
between economy and culture and arts is important for the
survival of traditional values.
“This link is crucial, because they support each other. NIS
and FEST are two brands and I think that this sort of mutual
recognition cannot fail. The support NIS gives helps organize
FEST better, and I believe that this Belgrade film festival has
earned this trust in the years in which NIS has been its strategic
partner. I hope this will continue in the future as well,” Karl
concludes. This year again the Festival invests a lot of energy
in carrying out its great cultural and educational task, moving
cinematic horizons for all cinema-lovers. At this year’s festival,
with the motto “Not everything is black and white”, 76 films
premiered in a number of film programmes.
FEST opened with Boban Skerlić’s So Hot Was The Cannon,
a domestic film from the “FEST Presents” programme. In the
“Focus on Russia” programme, a film by the recently deceased
Aleksei Balabanov, Me Too, was screened, followed by Fedor
Bondarchuk’s Stalingrad and a disaster movie – Anton Megerdichev’s Metro.
hosted FEST
audiences
101.036
TICKETS
sold at this
year's FEST
The first FEST
held in
1971
About the Festival
The first FEST, titled “Brave New World”, was opened on
January 9, 1971, at the Dom Sindikata Hall in Belgrade.
The film that opened the festival was Robert Altman’s
Mash. Envisioned as the annual overview of the best
films of the season, FEST has become one of the most
important film festivals and one of the headline events in
Belgrade’s cultural life, seeing many generations of viewers grow up with it.
The festival’s enduring feature in all its years is that it has
been open to all the world’s cinemas and key directors,
as well as to the films which will not be shown in film
theatre circuits. The importance of FEST is clearly seen
in the fact that it is at FEST that the Belgrade audiences have been introduced to the films of some of the
greatest directors of today, e.g. Theo Angelopoulos, Bob
Rafelson, Volker Schlöndorff, David Cronenberg, Ken
Russell, Win Wenders, Kieslowski, and Herzog.
Many great world actors and directors, who were festival
guests, have become part of the festival’s history: Marcello Mastroianni, Harvey Keitel, Liv Ullmann, Bernardo
Bertolucci, Sophia Loren, Robert De Niro, Antonioni,
Johnny Depp, Miloš Forman, Catherine Deneuve, Wim
Wenders, Abbas Kiarostami, Hanna Schygulla, the aforementioned Rafelson, Schlöndorff, and Russell. The list is
long and impressive.
47
48
Promotions and Marketing
Promotions and Marketing
A Different
Kind of Offer
a new portfolio of ecological lubricants.
The first product in this environmentally-friendly portfolio, to appear on the
market soon, is NISOTEC Biotesterol, a
biodegradable product intended for use
in forestry and agriculture. NISOTEC
Adblue for Euro 4 and Euro 5 engines,
which reduces harmful nitrous oxides
in the exhaust gases, is already available on the market
NIS also presented at the Fair a new
NISOTEC visual identity, which fits
NIS had a now traditional
presentation at the Belgrade
Motor Show 2014, and offered
to car aficionados a rich
and diverse programme
at its stand
Under the domes of the Belgrade Fair,
the days of the automobile at the NIS
stand were marked by the promotion of
business result and company participation in the domestic and foreign
markets, as well as by time spent with
renowned Serbian sportsmen.
Among other things, the Fair was an
opportunity to present our company’s
leading position in the area of lubricants,
and plans to increase the domestic
and foreign market share. As part of
its presentation at the Motor show,
the Company organized a competition
titled “My car and me love the NISOTEC
oils”, presented by Dušan Borković, the
best-known Serbian professional driver
and member of the “NIS Petrol Racing
Team“. In order to protect the environment, NISOTEC, the best-known NIS oil
brand, has developed “ECO-FRIENDLY“,
Gazprom petrol stations
are intended for the most
demanding consumers and,
in addition to top-quality
fuel, these facilities feature
well-stocked shops, exchange
offices, ATMs, car washes,
and playrooms for the
youngest
into the NIS tricolours, with the blue
colour of the packaging representing a
synergy with the Gazprom brand. In this
way, the fact that NISOTEC is part of a
leading oil company which guarantees
high quality and reliability of products
is additionally highlighted, as well as
keeping pace with the modern trends in
design. Motor show visitors had an enjoyable time at the NIS stand and being
around the “Red Star“ football club and
“Partizan“ basketball club first-teamers.
In addition, the promotion of Gazprom
petrol stations at the Motor Show was a
specially crafted experience.
The GAZPROM brand concept was presented to the visitors, as well as a broad
range of products and services on offer
in the new, modernized petrol station
network, created with the expectations
of modern consumers in mind. The Motor Show guests had the opportunity to
have a taste at the stand of the gourmet
specialties prepared and served at the
Gazprom facilities.
One of the special features
of GAZPROM petrol stations
is a rich restaurant offer of
gourmet dishes, prepared from
fresh, high-quality ingredients,
as well as a broad selection of
coffee and beverages
49
50
trendsetter
trendsetter
Dušan Borković, the most trophied Serbian
driver, facing the challenge of his career
The King of
Speed
by Uroš Popović
Uroš Popović
Joining the grid of the
WTCC Championship will
be the crowning glory of
two decades of competing.
Years of commitment, risk,
and everyday improvement
have led to the moment
when he will pit his skills
against the best-known
drivers of today. Meet
Dušan Borković, a young
man who has gone the
distance from a karting
champion to a member of
the up-and-coming
NIS Petrol Racing by
Campos Team
Talking to a champion is a privilege
of the journalistic profession. It takes
special preparations to rise up to the
task of describing in writing a life in the
fast lane and presenting a story of a
young man who is on first name terms
with adrenaline. The reason for this
is simple. There aren’t many drivers
from our corner of the world who have
left a mark in a sport which requires
special character strength and the type
of personality which fights a threefold battle day in, day out – the battle
with personal limitations, with the
competitors on the race track, and the
stopwatch. This is the fighting ground
of Dušan Borković. Born in Serbia.
Raised in Pančevo. A champion. Moving
boundaries in his domain.
When you have over 200 trophies and
you’re barely thirty years of age, the
title of the most successful Serbian
driver comes naturally. However, this is
absent from the conversations with the
popular Duca.
As the youngest holder of the “Diamond Helmet” award, the winner of
three “Golden Helmet” awards, the
champion in the overall ranking in
Serbian hill climbing, group runner-up
and third place winner in the overall
ranking at the European Hill Climb
Championship, Borković was on his
way to highest achievements from the
youngest categories onwards.
Born on a Sunday, the traditional racing day around the world, Borković
seems to have been predestined for
the world of speed. Family heritage
was showing him the way, but he got
through the most challenging part of
the race track by himself. The son of a
motorcycle and truck racing champion
in former Yugoslavia, the popular Duca
realized from the word go that the
adventure leading up to the winner’s
throne is almost invariably filled with
challenges and hurdles.
Beginnings in
the World of
Speed
He found himself behind the wheel even
before he took his first steps as a child,
and became involved in car racing at
age nine. As can be expected, his career
kicked off in karting, and his talent was
confirmed immediately. Facing serious
competition was his baptism of fire.
“In my first race, I came in fourth and
I really wasn’t afraid. I can still vividly
remember that race, and I took the very
next opportunity that came along to
come in second,” Borković reminisces
for Energize magazine. An incredible
success for a beginner that took everybody by surprise.
He saw the flip side of the coin at the
very outset of his career. During his
third Belgrade race, Borković skidded
off the race track and, as the car tumbled, broke both his arms. Those were
the kinds of injuries that would have
made most inexperienced drivers in
the younger categories consider other
career options, but they made Dušan
train all the harder.
“I had a very successful karting season
and won the Yugoslavian championship. Six times in a row. For winning the
three consecutive championship titles,
I was awarded the “Golden Helmet” in
1997, and became the youngest holder of
this award. Since I won the championship
in the next three years, I was awarded the
“Golden Helmet” again, and became the
youngest double holder of the award.”
“It was 2003, and I switched to the
most popular class in our championship, the ‘National Class – Hybrid’.
Since I didn’t drive all the races, I came
in third in the overall ranking, but the
following year I was the runner-up. For
the four years that followed, up until
2008, I had the greatest number of
victories in the history of the ‘National
Class’. In the 2007 Hill Climb, I achieved
track records in all the eight races. In
addition to the third ‘Golden Helmet’ in
a row, I won my first ‘Diamond Helmet’.”
And here the history of the youngest
trophy winner ever repeats itself.
“My great love, the Mitsubishi Evolution IX, was acquired in 2009. The car
that opened the door of Europe for me,
the ‘machine’ that I was in complete
harmony with. Thanks to this, in 2010 I
was the hill climb champion of Serbia,
and I also took part in the Serbia Rally
Race and the Istria Rally Race. The
following year I set sail for Europe,
chose the FIA European Hill Climb,
and became the first competitor from
Serbia who tried his skills in the entire
championship. The year 2012 was very
important for my career, because I
became the first person from Serbia
who was the European champion in hill
51
52
trendsetter
trendsetter
and growing steadily. Last year, over 530
million people watched the competition, according to the official figures.
In a direct comparison, the competitions’s popularity is greater than that of
Formula 1, which managed to ‘rally’ 502
million viewers.
WTCC 2014:
All Across the World
In the 2014 season, a veritable WTCC car
caravan will compete on 12 tracks of various configurations, characteristics, and
histories.
Morocco will have the honour of opening the season. The host of the second
round will be the legendary Paul Ricard
Circuit, situated halfway between Toulon
and Marseille, which means that the
WTCC races are returning to France for
the first time after 2009 and the significantly less-known Pau-Ville Circuit in the
South West of France. Subsequently, the
caravan moves to Central and Eastern
Europe, making the rounds through
Hungary and the well-known ‘Hungaroring’ in our vicinity. Then comes Slovakia,
Austria, and the modern autodrome in
Russia, just outside Moscow, which has
been included in the FIA regulations since
2012. The last round in the Old Continent
will be held in Belgium, on the legendary
Spa-Francorchamps Circuit, with a long
and impressive tradition (the WTCC races
were organized there only in the 2005
season). Since the first seven rounds will
be driven in the space of three months,
the remaining five are scheduled between
August and November, due to logistics
and the complexities of transporting
technical support and equipment.
The teams and drivers will be moving to
Argentina for the second time, to the Santiago Del Estero Province, only to head on
over to the Sonoma Circuit in the USA.
The final stage of the competition will
bring battles on the asphalt of China
and Japan, the latter providing the
Grand-Prix configuration of the Suzuka
Circuit for premier driving (instead of a
significantly shorter segment which was
challenging for the drivers the previous
year). The season traditionally ends with a
prestigious race in the Macau Region.
climbing. In the very first race, in Austria, I won first place and achieved the
track record. Out of the 12 races in total,
I took part in nine. I set the speed record
for the N series on four race tracks.
After the 2012 season, I needed to take
a step further, so I opted for the very demanding ETCC – European Touring Car
Cup. It was time for the very top, the
increasingly impactful WTCC.”
Competing
with the Elite
In his career so far, the support of his
family, friends, and members of the NIS
Petrol Racing Team has had a major
role. Behind a boyish smile, Borković
openly shows commitment, and the desire to win, which seems to be growing
stronger. The ambitions are great, as are
the responsibilities.
“I want to leave a mark in the WTCC
competition, in the face of competition well deserving of respect. This is
the highest level and competition rank
under the auspices of FIA, and so it will
contribute to the popularization of car
racing in Serbia. My future rivals are Sebastian Loeb, Gabriele Tarquini, and the
current champion, Yvan Muller. Caution
and respect are essential. At the same
time, the WTCC viewership is enormous
The races are dynamic, in the previous
years there has been a lot of car-contact
on the track, and it’s interesting from the
first lap to the last. Although the fight for
the awards podium hasn’t started yet,
the preparations are well under way.”
Borković says that he is getting ready by
training every day for many hours. And
then there is the car. It is a Chevrolet
Cruze, the charge of the RML car shop.
“The car has been available since midMarch, and the first tests will be carried
out in Valencia. We’ll see how this will
work in actual practice, but we certainly
hope for the best.”
From the upcoming season onwards,
a new set of rules will be in place. As
Borković points out, these will contribute additionally to the spectacle, and
the cars will be significantly faster and
with greater performances.
“The engine modifications have helped
us reach the declared 380 horse power.
Alongside 50 kilograms less mass and
improvements in the aerodynamics, this guarantees 1.5 seconds per
kilometre, and a lap time as much as
seven seconds better than in the previous season. My team mate will be Hugo
Valente from France.”
Tyre, brake, and wheel size has been increased, so the car is now closer to the
burning hot asphalt. The new competition year will not have a so-called “flying start”, as has been the case so far, as
in the absence of BMW all cars use the
advantages of the front wheel drive.
Born on a Sunday, the traditional
racing day around the world, Borković
seems to have been predestined
for the world of speed
There is a lot of excitement, because Duca will be fender to
fender with a role model of the racing world, Sebastian Loeb,
the nine-time WRC champion.
“This is truly a privilege. I think that he is an all-round racer, a
living legend. It is my great wish to try my skill in the historically very important ‘Spa’ Circuit in Belgium, as well as in an
attraction-filled ‘Suzuki’ track in Japan. There will certainly
be a special atmorpshere in the nearby ‘Hungaroring’, where I
hope to get the support of the fans,” concludes Borković.
From April 12 onwards, it is up to us then to turn the patience
and the positive jitters into the support for the NIS Petrol
Racing by Campos Team and our very own Dušan Borković.
We do not doubt it that Duca is a nickname that the competitors, as well as the WTCC viewers, will learn and remember as
early as the first season. Good luck, Champ!
History and Rules
Although the modern era of touring class car competitions started in 2005, the heritage and the history that
WTCC has transformed into the competition’s long standing are associated with 1987. The World Touring Car Cup
(1993-1995), the competition form that the championship
that we know and love has developed from, provided no
less excitement on race tracks all over the world. According to the rules, the attraction-filled touring car competition is reserved for the standard factory production
models, with four doors in the Sedan chassis, and racing
modification including 1.6 litre turbo engine and a sixspeed sequential gearbox. Also, despite the visual identity
with the factory edition, the WTCC cars are capable of
merciless racing and extreme speed. Every event in the
racing weekend has two competitions. In addition, the
scoring system rules say that the first ten drivers in the
official ranking collect points in the following order – 25,
18, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, 1). The WTCC races are organized by Eurosport, and broadcast by 86 TV stations in
180 countries of the world, on four continents: Europe,
South America, North America, and Asia. With every new
year that passes, the WTCC Championship becomes first
choice for more sponsors, some of which include the
world’s largest companies, as well as states themselves.
53
54
WTCC Race Calendar
trendsetter
trendsetter
2014 Season
Circuit Moulay El Hassan
Circuit Paul Ricard
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo
April 12-13 /Morocco
April 19-20 /France
June 21-22 /Belgium
August 2-3 /Argentina
Lap Distance: 4,545 m
Lap Distance: 3,841 m.
Lap Distance: 7,400 m
Lap Distance: 4,806 m
Record 1:44.617/156.39 kph,
Pepe Oriola (SEAT León), 15 April 2012.
Race Distance: 2 x 16 laps
On the WTCC calendar for the first time
Record 2:33.955/162.42 kph,
Dirk Müller (BMW 320si), 30 July 2005.
Record 1:50.248/156.93 kph,
Hungaroring
Slovakia Ring
Sonoma Raceway
Shanghai International Circuit
Lap Distance:4,381 m
Lap Distance: 5,922 m
September 13-14 /USA
October 11-12 /China
May 3-4 /Hungary
May 10-11 /Slovakia
Lap Distance: 4,032 m
Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze), 4 August 2013.
Lap Distance: 4,603 m
Record 1:55.801/136.19 kph,
Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze), 5 May 2013.
Record 2:12.918/160.39 kph,
Gabriele Tarquini (Honda Civic), 28 April 2013.
Record 1:46.905/135.77 kph,
Tiago Monteiro (Honda Civic), 8 September 2013.
Record 1:55.233/143.80 kph,
Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze), 4 November 2012.
Salzburgring
Moscow Raceway
Suzuka International Circuit
Circuito da Guia
May 24-25 /Austria
June 07-08 /Russia
October 25-26 /Japan
Lap Distance: 5,807 m
November 14-16 /Macau
Lap Distance:3,931 m
Record 1:26.875/175.74 kph,
Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze), 19 May 2013.
Record: 1:44.179/135.83 kph,
Record 53.885/149.85 kph,
Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze), 2
1 October 2012 (length of East Circuit 2,243 m)
Record 2:32.063/144.88 kph,
Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze), 18 November 2012.
Lap Distance: 4,241 m
Tom Coronel (BMW 320 TC), 9 June 2013.
Lap Distance:6,120 m
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The Iron Gate Gorge
A Forgotten
Heaven on Earth
by Vojislav Stevanović
They used to travel by boat betweenthe town of Donji
Milanovac and Belgrade. Not by the Danube chaikas or
the steamer, although such routes did exist, but in the
eighties, they would travel by speedboats, embarking
from the Sava Quay for a couple of hours of bliss. When
we were children, our elders used to say that it was the
best way to see the Danube’s Iron Gate Gorge
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They were wrong. Of course boats are fantastic, and the experience is underscored by the nostalgia that you feel, since speedboats have not been around for over two decades. Despite
everything, however, it is but the second best way to travel
through the gorge. The best is – on a bicycle.
Quite some time before you could see the completion of the
never-to-be Corridor X looming ahead, Serbia finished the
construction of another international highway. Eurovelo 6 is a
bicycle route stretching from the Atlantic coast in France all
the way to the Black Sea, and passes through Serbia along the
Danube. The Vojvodina section has a charm of its own, sure,
but the section between Veliko Gradište and Negotin reigns
supreme. Any one of the thousands of cyclists involved in
cycle touring will confirm this. Modern tourism has undergone
a paradigm shift, so for many people a vacation means turning
pedals all day long around Europe. Many of these people complete the Danube Route.
Naturally, for those who find bicycles overly exotic, the
trusted way of travelling by car would also do. It is essential,
however, not to rush. In order to fully experience the Iron
Gate, you must get out of the car, and pass through it slowly,
looking around a lot.
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The Base Camp
The town of Donji Milanovac makes
quite a good base, half a day away
from even the remotest interesting
destination. From there, on a bike or
by other means of transportation, you
can easily reach Trajan’s Memorial
Plaque, Lepenski Vir, Rajko’s Cave, and
Captain Miša’s Hill. Areas of exceptional
natural beauty are nearby, such as the
Iron Gate Gorge and Đerdap National
Park. In addition, there are the power
stations at Kladovo and Negotin, Mount
Crni Vrh near the town of Bor, the Old
Mountain and Mount Rtanj and Miroč.
On top of this, there are the caves of
Mount Dubašnica and the Kučaj Mountain Range, as well as the Sokobanja,
Gamzigrad, and Brestovac spas. All of
that is within a hundred kilometres,
and can be visited in a day.
The entire gorge is in fact a national
park. The Iron Gate’s 63,000 hectares
spread across the territories of as many
as three municipalities – Golubac, Majdanpek, and Kladovo. Data on the area
informs us that this is Europe’s biggest
open-air natural and archaeological
museum, a space with the greatest biodiversity within a single ecosystem, and
the largest, oldest, and richest refuge of
relict flora and fauna. This was why the
state authorities declared this area a
national park in 1974.
The town itself makes a beautiful vacationing spot. It was called Poreč in times
gone by, and subsequently named after
Prince Milan Obrenović, Prince Miloš’s
son who died prematurely. Only memories and old yellow photographs remain
of that town today. The old Milanovac
was flooded some forty years ago. Its
homes and hearths lie at the bottom of
the river because of the construction of
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the Iron Gate hydroelectric power station. Before its final relocation, the town
of Donji Milanovac changed locations a
number of times. It has been at its present
location, a one-time Roman settlement,
since 1971. It is situated four kilometres
downstream from the spot where the
small town used to be. Nowadays, as
much as before, it is known for its Danube
anglers. Legend has it that before the
flooding sturgeons dominated this part
of the Danube. There were even specimens that weighed a couple of hundred
kilograms. Today, however, it is far better
known for its Wels catfish, traditionally
caught using a special wooden bat to
splash the surface and attract the fish.
When the dam was built, the famous
Danube navigators – captains that
would take boats through the gorge
while skilfully steering clear of underwater rocks, a characteristic feature of
this stretch of the Danube -- became
the stuff of legend. Many boats have in
times gone by got stranded on the rocks,
and many ended up at the bottom of
the river. The Danube navigators, a
special breed of human tugboats, were
the only way to steer barges through a
labyrinth of underwater traps.
It is highly recommended for tourists.
Private accommodation is available
everywhere. The prices are reasonable, you could even say low, and the
thatch, and covered with leaves and wild
animal skins. The huts had a hearth,
a small domestic altar and sculptures
made of stone, representing their deities.
It is the sculptures that became the
signature feature of Lepenski Vir around
the world, and which are among the oldest art of this kind in Europe.
service will keep everyone happy. It is a
relatively unknown fact that this was a
town with the smallest number of rainy
days a year in the former Yugoslavia, so
great weather is almost guaranteed.
At the very centre of the town, there is
a quay and a border crossing for international river passenger traffic. Donji
Milanovac also boasts a hotel named
Lepenski Vir.
Lepenski Vir
Not far from the town is one of the
main tourist attractions of the area –
the Lepenski Vir archaeological site. It
was discovered in 1965, and was one of
the most important discoveries of this
sort in Serbia. The Lepenski Vir, or Lepen,
culture is about 8,000 years old and was
a complete mystery for the archaeologists, getting its name from its location.
Humans lived at this location for a
full 2,000 years and developed from
hunters and gatherers to an organized
social and economic community.
The inhabitants of Lepenski Vir were the
first urbanists and architects in these
parts, building houses with trapezoidshaped bases, made of timber and
Lepenski Vir is one of the biggest and
most important Mesolithic and Neolithic
archaeological sites. It is located on the
right bank of the Danube, in the Iron
Gate gorge. This locality, which got its
name from the Danube whirlpool, was
the centre of one of the most important
and complex prehistoric cultures.
Golubac
Fortress
hold, but the exact time when it was
built remains unknown, as well as
who built it. The Byzantines needed it
to fortify their northern borders, later
the Hungarians used it to secure their
lands across the Danube, and still later
the Serbs needed it because it stood in
the way of Hungarian incursions into
their territories.
Peace was established when these
lands came under the reign of Serbs,
when King Dragutin was in power. As
there were no conflicts at that time,
not many written records survive. The
territory was under Serbian rule until
the Battle of Kosovo, and after that it
was held by the Turks, having been
taken by the Turkish sultan Bayezid I. It
remained in the hands of the Turks until 1867, with only a few brief changes
of hands. It was in 1867 that the Turks
handed the town over to Prince Mihailo.
And a little further on – the town of
Golubac and its eight-sided tower, a
one-time quay (today the town symbol
and the “door” of the Gorge), though
which a state highway runs.
Captain
Miša’s Hill
Its first recorded mention in history,
according to the official data, was in
1335, as a Hungarian military strong-
Another tourist must-see is a small
plateau, on the old road to the town of
Majdanpek. Captain Miša’s Hill started
Distance (Distances
are approximate)
220 Belgrade
600 Budapest
Bucharest 445
Sofia
380
off as an artists’ atelier, but today it is a
restaurant-cum-gallery, a travellers’ rest
house, boasting over 400 ancient sculptures. Landscapes and views that heal
are the main offer of this attraction.
Some time ago, children on school
trips would visit this area and take in
the view of the Iron Gate hydroelectric
power station – the pride and joy of former Yugoslavia. As the country disintegrated, this particular portion of it also
underwent a collapse of its own. Despite
its many sights, the Iron Gate Gorge was
forgotten for a period of time, together
with its legends, captains, famous
caviar, sturgeons weighing hundreds of
kilograms, and ancient civilizations.
Young people who had not successfully vied for a job at the Hydroelectric
Power Station or the National Park
would rarely choose to stay in the area.
On the other hand, tourism was a big
opportunity that the area had. More
and more village households are ready
and willing to accommodate guests,
more and more barges sail elegantly
along this stretch of the Danube, and
students and sportsmen are coming
back to these parts. This is why a visit
to the Iron Gate Gorge is not a trip to
the “ghost land”, but rather to a region
rising from its own ashes.
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WTCC kalendar trka
trendsetter
trendsetter
sezona 2014.
Circuit Moulay El Hassan
Maroko, 12-13. april 2014.
Dužina staze 4.545 m
Vozi se dva puta po 14 krugova
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
Circuit Paul Ricard
Francuska, 19-20 april 2014.
Dužina staze 3.841 m
Vozi se dva puta 16 krugova
Staza prvi put u kalendaru WTCC-a
Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps
Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo
Belgija, 21-22. jun 2014.
Argentina, 02-03. august 2014.
Dužina staze: 7.400m
Dužina staze: 4.806 m
Vozi se dva puta po 9 krugova
Vozi se dva puta po 13 krugova
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
44.617/156.39 kph
2:33.955/162.42 kph
1:50.248/156.93 kph
Pepe Oriola (SEAT León), 15. april 2012.
Dirk Müller (BMW 320si), 30. jul 2005.
Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze), 4. avgust 2013.
Hungaroring
Slovakia Ring
Sonoma Raceway
Shanghai International Circuit
Mađarska, 03-04. maj 2014.
Slovačka, 10-11. maj 2014.
SAD, 13-14. septembar 2014.
Kina, 11-12. oktobar 2014.
Dužina staze 4.381 m
Dužina staze 5.922m
Dužina staze: 4.032 m
Dužina staze: 4.603 m
Vozi se dva puta po 14 krugova
Vozi se dva puta po 11 krugova
Vozi se dva puta po 15 krugova
Vozi se dva puta po 14 krugova
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
1:55.801/136.19 kph
2:12.918/160.39 kph
1:46.905/135.77 kph
1:55.233/143.80 kph
Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze), 5. maj 2013.
Gabriele Tarquini (Honda Civic), 28. april 2013.
Tiago Monteiro (Honda Civic), 8. septembar 2013.
Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze), 4. novembar 2012.
Salzburgring
Moscow Raceway
Suzuka International Circuit
Circuito da Guia
Austrija, 24-25. maj 2014.
Rusija, 07-08. jun 2014.
Japan, 25-26. oktobar 2014.
Makau, 14-16. novembar 2014.
Dužina staze: 4.241 m
Dužina staze: 3.931 m
Dužina staze: 5.807m
Dužina staze: 6.120 m
Vozi se dva puta po 15 krugova
Vozi se dva puta po 16 krugova
Vozi se dva puta po 11 krugova
Vozi se dva puta po 10 krugova
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
Rekord staze u WTCC šampionatu:
1:26.875/175.74 kph
1:44.179/135.83 kph
53.885/149.85 kph, Alain Menu (Chevrolet
2:32.063/144.88 kph
Yvan Muller (Chevrolet Cruze), 19. maj 2013.
Tom Coronel (BMW 320 TC), 9 jun. 2013.
Cruze), 21. oktobar 2012.*
Alain Menu (Chevrolet Cruze),
* East Circuit 2.243m
18. novembar 2012.
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industry&bussiness
industry&bussiness
Istraživanje nekonvencionalnih resursa
TEŽIM PUTEM
DO NOVIH
ENERGENATA
Budući da je vek trajanja postojećih resursa
ugljovodonika ograničen i da se rezerve nafte i gasa
iz godine u godinu smanjuju, strateška istraživanja
ovih energenata, po svemu sudeći, kretaće se ka
nekonvencionalnim resursima ugljovodonika.
Razvoj istraživanja ove vrste ugljovodonika zavisiće,
pre svega, od ekonomije, odnosno od toga da li će
istraživanje i eksploatacija nekonvencionalnih
resursa donositi profit
Nekonvencionalni resursi ugljovodonika su resursi koji se ne dobijaju
iz klasičnih kolektor stena (stene u
kojima se nalaze već otkrivena ležišta
nafte i gasa), već iz stena sa niskom
propusnošću i matičnih stena. U pitanju su velike količine ugljovodonika
zarobljene u niskopropusnom pornom
prostoru ili u izvornim matičnim
stenama (stene u kojima se stvaraju
ugljovodonici). Ovi resursi ugljovodonika se ne mogu rentabilno eksploatisati
primenom tradicionalne tehnologije, već su za njihovu eksploataciju
neophodna multidisciplinarna znanja
i savremene tehnologije. Troškovi
istraživanja i proizvodnje ovih resursa
su veoma visoki i zahtevaju sistematičan pristup, pre svega prikupljanje
dovoljnog broja podataka iz vertikalnih
pilot-bušotina. Nakon analize podataka dobijenih vertikalnim bušenjem i
pozitivnog rezultata prilikom ispitivanja bušotina, moguće je planirati
bušenje horizontalnih bušotina, koje
su u ovom slučaju eksploatacione.
Veoma je dug period od istraživanja do
prvih pozitivnih rezultata.
Najviše iskustva u istraživanju i
proizvodnji nekonvencionalnih resursa imaju SAD. Oni su 80-ih godina
prošlog veka krenuli sa pionirskim
ispitivanjima, da bi proizvodnja gasa
iz nekonvencionalnih rezervoara krenula od 2000. godine. SAD su lider u
svetu po proizvodnji gasa iz tzv. “tight
sand” rezervoara. Iskustva iz SAD se
primenjuju u svetu i ovim istraživanjima počinju da se bave arapske
zemlje, zemlje Latinske Amerike,
Evropa. U poslednje dve godine došlo
je do ekspanzije geoloških istraživanja nekonvencionalnih resursa gasa
(„tight” i „shale”) u Poljskoj, Kini,
Argentini, Australiji. Aktuelni su
pilot-projekti geoloških istraživanja
u Holandiji, Poljskoj, Nemačkoj, Austriji, Mađarskoj, Rumuniji, Švedskoj i
Velikoj Britaniji. Primenjuje se savremena tehnologija koja je proverena
u SAD sa kojom rade najuspešnije
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BROJ
industry&bussiness
2
G
4
JANUAR
FEBRUAR
MART
SMANJENJE EMISIJE CO :
Igre bez granica
Konvencionalni
gasni reursi
Male rezerve koje je lako
proizvesti
industry&bussiness
Kakvo gorivo sipamo na pumpama:
Vreme promena
Konvencionalni gas
Vezani gas
nekonvencionalni
gasni reursi
Metan iz uglja
Velike rezerve komplikovane
za proizvodnju
Gas iz šejlova
Gasni hidrati
Istraživanje i proizvodnja
iz nekonvencionalnih
resursa može bitno da
utiče na energetsku
nezavisnost Srbije.
Istraživanja ove vrste pre
svega predstavljaju benefit
za državu, pa tek onda za
kompaniju koja je pokazala
interes da investira
u ovu oblast
kompanije u ovoj oblasti (Halliburton,
Schlumberger, Baker, Falkon, Hughes).
Svi projekti u Evropi su u stadijumu
procene potencijala i moguće tehnologije pridobijanja ovih resursa. Komercijalnih otkrića još uvek nema.
Procenjeni svetski nekonvencionalni
resursi energenata mnogo su veći od
proračunatih, odnosno otkrivenih rezervi ugljovodonika. Povećanje svetske
populacije i želje za boljim životnim
standardom povećaće tražnju za izvorima energenata svih vrsta. Shodno
tome, eksploatacija nekonvencionalnih
resursa će postati sve važnija kao izvor
budućih rezervi.
U svetskoj praksi je zastupljen koncept trouglog nomograma raspodele
prirodnih bogatstava uopšteno, koji se
može primeniti i za istraživanje nafte i
gasa. Potencijalni prostor za istraživanje ovih resursa uglavnom se nalazi u
blizini ili neposredno (po dubini i lateralno) od postojećih ležišta. Konvencionalna (visoko kvalitetna) nalazišta
su na vrhu trougla i zauzimaju njegov
najmanji deo, uglavnom su do sada
istražena. Kako se kvalitet ležišta smanjuje (problemi pridobijanja), veličina
nekonvencionalnih resursa se povećava („tight gas“, „shale gas“, „coal bed
methane“, „heavy oil“, „oil shale“), dok
cene istraživanja rastu uz neminovnu
upotrebu savremene tehnologije. Da bi
se ovakva istraživanja uopšte sprovodila, neophodni su multidisciplinarni
ekspertski timovi i saradnja sa svetskim kompanijamakoje imaju iskustva
u ovoj oblasti.
Panonski basen
uliva nadu
Panonski basen, iako mlad u geološkom smislu, je definisan kao jedan
od potencijalnih basena u Evropi za
nekonvencionalne resurse ugljovodonika, pre svega: “tight gas”( kompaktni
peščari i dijatomiti zasićeni gasom),
“shale gas” (matične stene) i “coalbed
methane“(metan iz uglja). S obzirom
na činjenicu da Srbija pokriva deo Pa-
2
nonskog basena, postoji verovatnoća da se na našoj teritoriji
nalaze ležišta nekonvencionalnih resursa gasa.
Istraživanjem i uključivanjem u razradu teško pridobivih I
nekonvencionalnih rezervi se sada bave sve velike kompanije,
tako da ni NIS ne predstavlja izuzetak. U NIS-u je, u okviru
Naučno tehnološkog centra, formirana grupa za nekonvencionalne resurse, čiji je jedan od zadataka upravo razrada polja
sa teškom naftom, istraživanje nekonvencionalnih resursa
gasa i naftnih škriljaca. U Srbiji i regionu postoji veliki potencijal za razvoj nekonvencionalnih resursa. Kako bi ovaj potencijal pretvorio u stvarnost, NIS aktivno radi na istraživanju i
primeni novih tehnologija u ovoj oblasti. Pravci interesovanja
NIS-a u oblasti nekonvencionalnih resursa su nekonvencionalni gas, teška sirova nafta i naftni škriljci.
NIS je prepoznao potencijal Panonskog basena zbog čega je
osmišljen Pilot projekat geoloških istraživanja nekonvencionalnog gasa. Projekat je sličan onima koji se trenutno rade
u zemljama Evropske unije i bave se procenom potencijalnosti određenog prostora za istraživanje i eksploataciju
nekonvencionalnih resursa. Realizacija ovog projekta bi
trebalo da da odgovor na pitanje kakav je potencijal našeg
Novebasena,
tehnologije
dela Panonskog
kada su u pitanju nekonvencionalni
resursi ugljovodonika.
su NIS-ova
prednost
NIS je na tenderu izabrao kompaniju - partnera za realizaciju ovog pilot projekta. Izabrana je kompanija sa iskustvom
u ovom poslu – Hulliburton. Angažovanje „Hulliburtona“
predviđa geološku ekspertizu i sistematizaciju raspoloživih
geoloških, seizmičkih i petrofizičkih podataka i precizno
lociranje pilot bušotine. Nakon bušenja, sledi analiza rezultata bušenja i procena potencijalnosti izabranog prostora na
nekonvencionalni gas.
Preduslov uspešnog istraživanja nekonvencionalnih resursa
je izgradnja multidisciplinarnih timova i rešavanje veoma
kompleksnog geološkog modela Panonskog basena u saradnji sa specijalistima iz zemalja u okruženju. Istraživanje i
proizvodnja iz nekonvencionalnih resursa može bitno da
utiče na energetsku nezavisnost Srbije. Istraživanja ove vrste pre svega predstavljaju benifit za državu, pa tek onda za
kompaniju koja je pokazala interes da investira u ovu oblast.
Preduslov uspešnog istraživanja
nekonvencionalnih resursa je izgradnja
multidisciplinarnih timova i rešavanje
veoma kompleksnog geološkog modela
Panonskog basena u saradnji sa
specijalistima iz zemalja u okruženju
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industry&bussiness
industry&bussiness
Intervju: Lorens Mark Larsen, projekt
menadžer za nekonvencionalne resurse
Transformacija
energetskog
reljefa
Tokom poslednje decenije,
napredovanje tehnologije
doprinelo je otkrivanju novih
izvora nafte iz zatvorenih
(konzerviranih) bušotina,
teške sirove nafte, bitumena
i naftnih škriljaca. Jedan
od najbitnijih procesa u
toku razrade bušotina je
mogućnost vađenja prirodnog
gasa, nekad čak i nafte,
direktno iz matičnih stena.
Ovo transformiše energetski
reljef. U Srbiji i regionu postoji
veliki potencijal za razvoj
nekonvencionalnih resursa.
Kako bi ovaj potencijal
pretvorio u stvarnost, NIS
aktivno radi na istraživanju
i primeni novih tehnologija,
kaže na početku razgovora
za „Energize”,
Lorens Mark Larsen,
projekt menadžer za
nekonvencionalne resurse
Kakvi su planovi po pitanju eksploatacije teške sirove nafte?
Uopšteno govoreći, teška sirova nafta
ima svojstva gustine i protoka poput
meda. Teško ju je pridobiti da protiče iz
bušotine. Postoji teška nafta, otkrivena
u Srbiji, u južnom Banatu, pre više
od šezdeset godina, koja još nije u
proizvodnji. Predlog istraživanja je da
definišemo, kako veličinu akumulacije
tako i karakteristike fluida, jer kvalitet
nafte varira u različitim delovima
ležišta. Ova informacija bi potpomogla
da se donese potkrepljena odluka o
mogućnosti proizvodnje iz ovog polja
s ekonomske strane, a korišćenjem
specijalističkih metoda.
Koji su pravci interesovanja NIS-a u ovoj oblasti?
Pravci interesovanja NIS-a u oblasti nekonvencionalnih resursa su nekonvencionalni gas, teška sirova nafta i naftni škriljci. Kada je nekonvencionalni gas
u pitanju, oblast koju trenutno istražujemo, možemo reći da se u novije vreme
nekoliko tipova tehnologija udružilo i omogućilo proizvodnju nafte (najviše
prirodnog gasa) iz nepropusnih stena gde protok pre nije bio moguć. Nakon
jednogodišnjeg ispitivanja, NIS je izbušio pilot-bušotinu u dubokom delu Panonskog
basena u severoistočnom Banatu. Samo bušenje je bilo tehnički komplikovano, ali
će pružiti korisne informacije za bolju procenu potencijala zatvorenih bušotina, kao
i akumulacije ugljovodonika u ovom delu basena. Laboratorijska ispitivanja, koja
su u toku, utvrdiće neke od osnovnih parametara neophodnih našim naučnicima za
uključivanje u njihove modele. Oblasti koje takođe pokrivaju Panonski basen u svom
značajnom delu su u Mađarskoj i Rumuniji. U tom smislu ono što otkrijemo ovde u
Srbiji će nam biti od velike koristi u daljem radu i moći će da bude primenjeno na
mnogo širem području.
Moramo bušiti nove bušotine da bismo
dokazali rezerve. Sada se radi novo
mapiranje i predlog lokacija za bušenje
novih bušotina na tešku naftu. U
pitanju su pliće bušotine pa troškovi
neće biti previše visoki. Postoje tehnike
eksploatacije ovakve vrste nafte. Jedna
od njih je ubrizgavanje pare u cilju
zagrevanja nafte kako bi mogla lakše
da teče. Drugi način je razrada ležišta
pomoću horizontalnih bušotina što
olakšava prohodnost nafte kroz kanal
bušotine. S obzirom na prirodu ležišta i
viskozitet tečnosti, ovo će biti zahtevan
poduhvat za naše inženjere.
prirodnim putem pretvorile iz organske
materije u naftu. Prethodna istraživanja su dokazala da je bar jedna od ovih
akumulacija ogromna i da bi pravilnom
preradom mogla da generiše i električnu
energiju i sintetičku sirovu naftu. Ovi podaci su stari i preko trideset godina, a od
tada se čak i ovde tehnologija promenila
imajući u vidu napredak u konstrukciji
peći i tehnološkom projektovanju. NIS-ov
Blok „Energetika“ je organizovao omanju
grupu koja će razmotriti kakve sve mogućnosti pomenuti tehnološki napredak
pruža. Projekat ovih razmera je veoma
Cilj nam je da u NIS-u
nađemo sposobne ljude
kojima ćemo pomoći da
unaprede svoja umeća i da
tim nadarenim kadrovima
poverimo ostvarivanje
pomenutih projekata
zahtevan i u njega je neophodno uložiti
mnogo inženjerskog truda da bi se, za
početak, odredili najbolji načini razrade.
Za ova zahtevna i kompleksna
istraživanja potrebni su iskusni i
stručni kadrovi. Kakva je strategija
NIS-a po ovom pitanju?
Nekonvencionalni resursi nalaze se na
granici onoga što je moguće trenutnom
tehnologijom. Nisu laki i zahtevaju
podrobnije poznavanje nauke. Usled
toga, naučnici koji učestvuju treba da
budu potkovani u primeni konvencionalnih metoda i tehnologija, ali takođe
treba svoje veštine da razviju do jednog
drugog nivoa da bi mogli da obavljaju
mnogo složenije radnje. Ovo je veoma
dinamična privredna grana koja zahteva
Kako će se razvijati oblast
istraživanja naftnih škriljaca zavisi
od odluke Vlade Srbije. Koliko je ova
oblast zaista perspektivna?
od stručnjaka da neprekidno uče i idu
Srbija poseduje veliki broj akumulacija
naftnih škriljaca izloženih na površini.
Te akumulacije u velikoj meri sadrže
organske materije, ali nisu bile pod dubokim podzemnim uslovima kako bi se
ostvarivanje pomenutih projekata. Pot-
u korak sa novitetima. Cilj nam je da u
NIS-u nađemo sposobne ljude kojima
ćemo pomoći da unaprede svoja umeća
i da tim nadarenim kadrovima poverimo
rebni su nam dobri naučnici i inženjeri
koji će se uhvatiti u koštac sa svime što
nas čeka, i ako to budemo imali nećemo
morati da brinemo za budućnost.
Geolog za nekonvencionalne resurse
Mark Larsen ima trideset i tri godine
iskustva u naftnoj industriji. Stekao
je diplomu inženjera geologije na
kanadskom Univerzitetu Saskačuan,
1980. godine, a diplomu mastera
ekonomije na univerzitetu u Kalgariju
1993. godine. Larsen je na samom
početku svoje karijere bio mlađi
inženjer u kanadskom Tenneco Oil,
zatim se zaposlio kod Canadian
Occidental Petroleum, u kom je kao
geolog-istraživač radio u Sedimentnom basenu u zapadnoj Kanadi, nakon
čega je pet godina proveo na razradi
ležišta na masilskim naftnim poljima u
Jemenu. Od 1996-2012. je bio zaposlen u kompaniji Schlumberger, najpre
kao geolog u Kalgariju u Kanadi da
bi potom prešao u SAD, a u jednom
periodu je radio i u Indoneziji na poslovima glavnog geologa. Krajem 2012.
godine zaposlio se u NIS-u.
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