Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 25
By Maksim Tsurkov – Trend:
SOCAR Turkey Enerji AS, a subsidiary of Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, is expecting in the next three weeks to get the results of a tender for the purchase of a network of filling stations of the Austrian oil and gas company OMV in Turkey, a source in SOCAR told Trend.
SOCAR is participating in a tender to buy nearly 1,800 filling stations, which are operated by OMV Petrol Ofisi AS, Turkish subsidiary of the Austrian OMV.
"The final stage of the tender procedure is now underway and SOCAR’s main competitor is now considered to be Saudi Aramco. The results will be announced in about three weeks. Depending on the results, the company [SOCAR] will form its future strategy - we have two backup options but we hope for a favorable outcome," the source said.
Zaur Gahramanov, head of SOCAR Turkey Enerji, has earlier said if this deal is not successful, SOCAR may consider creation of a new network of filling stations in Turkey or start talks to acquire another company.
SOCAR’s interest in buying assets of OMV in Turkey is connected with the impending launch of Star oil refinery in Izmir city.
It was earlier reported that the Austrian company OMV was selling its Turkish subsidiary OMV Petrol Ofisi AS, since, as a part of its strategy, it intends to focus on mining companies and integrated activities on oil refining. In this regard, OMV started selling 100 percent of shares in OMV Petrol Ofisi AS.