Gazprom Neft expands fuel station network 5% in 2 years, plans highway station development

MOSCOW. May 14 (Interfax) - Gazprom Neft's fuel station network has grown nearly 5% over two years, and it has plans to expand self-service options and highway locations, Director of Regional Sales at Gazprom Neft Dmitry Shepelsky said in an interview with Interfax.

"Two years ago we operated 1,476 stations across Russia. Today we have 1,549, including both company-owned and partner stations under our brand. We're not pursuing massive expansion, but rather targeted growth focused on efficiency. Gazprom Neft leads the retail market with average daily fuel sales of 19.3 tonnes per station. We intend to maintain this leadership while prioritizing customer loyalty. These two metrics guide our network development strategy," Shepelsky said.

Regarding Gazprom Neft's retail strategy, he said that the company continuously invests in network upgrades - constructing new stations, modernizing existing ones and developing IT services. Each new station undergoes rigorous feasibility analysis considering multiple factors, primarily local demand for fuel and ancillary services.

"Our network will grow in line with market conditions. The strategy involves gradual expansion while maintaining quality and demand focus," he said.

One of the growth points for Gazprom Neft's retail business in the medium term is the transition to new gas station formats, he said. "For example, we are currently actively expanding self-service areas at our stations. Using a terminal, drivers can pay for both fuel and related goods on their own. Of course, there is always a consultant in the hall to help customers make a choice and understand the technology. A pilot phase of this gas station format was recently completed - we received a lot of positive feedback, and customers are satisfied. At present, Gazprom Neft has 86 such gas stations, mainly in Moscow and St. Petersburg. By the end of 2025, there will be more than 270. We'll start with Central Russia and then expand to other regions. We plan to implement our self-service services primarily at the busiest stations."

Highway stations represent another priority, he said. As Russia upgrades federal highways and road tourism grows, motorists increasingly view highway stations as rest stops rather than mere refueling points, driving demand for roadside services.

"We're actively participating in this transformation. In 2024, we launched 24 Gazprom Neft stations along federal highways, including four on the new M-12 route. Over the next two years, we will increase M-12 stations to ten, constructing two new stations on the Moscow-Kazan section and four between Kazan and Yekaterinburg," he said.