OREANDA-NEWS. On 14 April 2009 LUKOIL published consolidated US GAAP financial accounts for 2008.

The Company’s operating cash flow increased by 31.5% to USD 14,312 million in 2008, despite global economic crisis and oil price fall. At the same time LUKOIL free cash flow* increased the record of USD 3,775 million which is more than twice as much as in 2007. EBITDA reached USD 15,552 million, which is 1.1% higher y-o-y. LUKOIL net income was USD 9,144 million in 2008, which is a decrease of 3.9% y-o-y. However net income adjusted for exploration expenses, loss on disposals and impairments of assets and for currency translation (loss) gain rose by 13.9%, to USD 11,219 million in 2008.

The Company’s tax expenses totaled USD 38.0 billion, up 36.3% y-o-y.

Lifting costs per boe of production in the forth quarter of 2008 decreased by almost 7% q-o-q, to USD 4.01. Lifting costs per boe of production in 2008 amounted to USD 4.12.

Capital expenditures including non-cash transactions in 2008 were USD 10.6 billion. New projects in the Caspian region, Yamal and Timan-Pechora accounted for almost 25% of the capital expenditures.

Production of marketable hydrocarbons (including share in production by affiliates) increased by 0.7% y-o-y, to 2,194 th. boe per day. Launch of commercial production at the Yuzhnaya Khylchuya field in August 2008 allowed to offset the Company’s oil production decrease in traditional regions. Successful development of Uzbek project Kandym – Khauzak – Shady provided the most of the gas production growth.

Throughputs at LUKOIL refineries (including ISAB refinery complex) totaled 1,127 th. barrels per day (56.3 mln tons) in 2008, which is 7.6% higher y-o-y.Volgograd and Odessa refineries (the latter was put back into operation in April 2008 after modernization) accounted for most of the growth. Besides, LUKOIL began oil refining at ISAB refinery complex (Italy) in December 2008. Thanks to an increase in capacity utilization rate (up to the record of 95%) and optimization of the operations, production of petroleum products at LUKOIL owned refineries (excluding mini-refineries and ISAB) increased by 7.4% y-o-y and totaled 52.5 million tons.

Exports of petroleum products in 2008 grew by 2.6% y-o-y to 25.8 million tons thanks to growing refinery throughputs. Crude oil exports in 2008 decreased by 6.8% y-o-y to 39.3 million tons.