Shell begins reorganization of filling stations in Russia
MOSCOW. Oct 23 (Interfax) - Shell has begun reorganizing its network of filling stations in Russia.
Shell Overseas Investments B.V. has applied with the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) for clearance to acquire 99% in Transportation, Ecology, Construction Service LLC (T.E.S.S.), the FAS said in a statement. The agency has cleared that transaction.
According to the SPARK database as of March 2008 T.E.S.S. owned Shell Neft, which manages Shell's filling station network and is in charge of developing the company's motor oil business in Russia.
Shell's Russian representation told Interfax that the filling stations operating under the Shell brand would be transferred from Shell Neft to T.E.S.S. "In order to optimize the structure we decided to move the filling stations to a separate company, which will engage in developing the retail sector," a company official said.
Shell Neft began building a plant for blending motor oil in the Torzhok region in August.
A total of 66 filling stations operate in Russia under the Shell brand, including 13 in Moscow and Moscow region.