OREANDA-NEWS. January 29, 2009. TNK-BP will overhaul and upgrade the Saratov Oil Refinery in 2009 and increase its refining capacity by 7.7% up to 7 million tons a year, said Pavel Ipatov, Governor of the Saratov Region, after a meeting with Gernam Khan, Executive Director of TNK-BP, reported the press-centre of TNK-BP.

“This year, the Saratov Oil Refinery will be reconstructed and overhauled. In 2010, the refinery will increase its production of oil products up to 7 million tons a year. Investments into production will be maintained, as in 2008, at the level of 1.8 billion rubles, of which 210 million rubles will be used for implementation of environmental protection measures” said the Governor.

As reported earlier, the repair interval of the Saratov Refinery is 2 years. The previous major repair of the refinery was performed in October 2007, after which the refining capacity of the Saratov Refinery increased by 8.3% up to 6.5 million tons a year, which is more than its rated capacity of 6 million tons a year.

According to the Governor, the Executive Director of TNK-BP assured the authorities of the region that the entire personnel will be retained at the refinery. “The average wages now are at the level of 15,000 rubles. Discussing this subject with German Borisovich I was informed that the personnel of the refinery understands the current situation, appreciate that they are working in this company, and are sure that the production of the company will remain stable in the years to come. The company will maintain the employment rate, labor compensation rate, and social benefits,” added Mr. Ipatov.

The Governor stressed that representatives of the regional authorities and the company agreed that TNK-BP will continue its traditional supplies of diesel fuel to agricultural producers at privileged prices. “We agreed that the price of diesel fuel in February will be 13,400 rubles per ton and approved the volume of diesel fuel supplies to the economic entities recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture. I would like to pint out that this price is one and a half times lower than last year. This is fairly good support of agricultural producers in the current crisis conditions,” the Governor explained.

At the meeting of Pavel Ipatov and German Khan, TNK-BP and the Saratov Region Administration signed an agreement of cooperation for 2009.