OREANDA-NEWS. April 16, 2010. The “EFFIE/THE BEST BRAND 2009” award ceremony took place in Moscow yesterday. The new Pulsar fuel designed by TNK-BP received the EFFIE/THE BEST BRAND 2009 award in the “New product or service introductions” nomination. Pulsar went on sale in October 2009 in Moscow and the Moscow region, reported the press-centre of TNK-BP.

“Pulsar was launched in accordance with our company’s marketing strategy designed to provide the market with high quality innovative products. We ensure greater consumer care against the backdrop of economic instability by way of offering a type of fuel that would reduce vehicle maintenance costs. We also improve our environmental protection efforts through production of a more environmentally friendly fuel. The launch of Pulsar was prefaced by an in-depth market and consumer demand research. Today we can safely say that Pulsar meets the highest performance and consumer quality criteria. In this respect this most prestigious marketing communications award in Russia is particularly important to us”, said Amir Feyzulin, Vice President, Marketing, TNK-BP.

The new Euro-4 compliant generation of Pulsar has undergone a series of tests in independent centres in Germany and Russia on injector and carburettor engines and showed higher detergent properties than regular gasoline types.

Today more than one third of customers of 95-octane gasoline at TNK fuel stations opt for Pulsar.

Currently, Pulsar is produced at the Ryazan Oil Refinery, a member of TNK-BP Group. Plans are being put in place to commence production at other company refineries.

Notes to editors:
Laboratory research showed that thanks to Pulsar induction valve sediments are reduced 34-fold and the level of carburettor pollution has dropped by more than 11%. Moreover, Pulsar’s corrosivity is 2.4-fold lower compared to standard A-95 fuel. All of these factors combined result in better mileage and vehicle durability, lower CO2 levels in exhaust gases and greater economy. The content of sulphur and benzene in Pulsar 95 is on average three times and 80% below the norm respectively. The arrival of this new fuel type with such prominent properties will boost the Company’s efforts to improve the environment.

“EFFIE/THE BEST BRAND” is the most prestigious international professional brand-building award in marketing communications in Russia. It is the only event of this kind in Russia that gained international recognition and was licensed by the American Marketing Association (AMA). “EFFIE/THE BEST BRAND” awards celebrate successes in brand building throughout the entire range of goods and services. The event has been held 12 times since 1998. This year various brands received awards in 33 nominations and the total number of entries exceeded 220.
In 2005 TNK-BP won a “EFFIE/THE BEST BRAND 2004” award in the “Companies & Organizations” category.

TNK-BP is Russia’s third largest oil company, 50% owned by BP and 50% owned by the AAR Consortium (Alfa Group, Access Industries and Renova). TNK-BP also owns close to 50% of another Russian oil and gas company, Slavneft. TNK-BP accounts for approximately 16% of Russia’s production (including its share of Slavneft). SEC proved reserves (life of field basis) were 8.586 billion boe as of December 31, 2009.