OREANDA-NEWS. March 01, 2012. Quarter ended 31 December 2011

Revenue of MUSD 825.4, up 42% from Q4 2010.

EBITDA of MUSD 236.1, up 99% from Q4 2010.

Profit before tax of MUSD 158.7, up 102% from Q4 2010.

Net profit of MUSD 119.1, up 94% from Q4 2010.

Year ended 31 December 2011

Revenue of MUSD 3,082.7, up 40% from 2010.

EBITDA of MUSD 690.3, up 57% from 2010.

Profit before tax of MUSD 432.8, up 49% from 2010.

Net profit of MUSD 328.3, up 45% from 2010.

Proved and probable oil reserves increased to 647.9 mbbl (2010: 638.3 mbbl) and a reserve replacement ratio of 154% (2010: 804%).

Production at the Kolvinskoye oil field was launched contributing oil of 3.0 mbbl.

Repsol and Alliance Oil form a MUSD 840 exploration and production joint venture and enter Russian gas market.

In 2011, the improved macro environment supported our operations and financial performance. The price of Urals increased by almost 40% year-on-year and the Russian Rouble strengthened against the US Dollar by 3.2%. New tax initiatives aimed at stimulating Russian upstream production and enforcing refinery modernizations were adopted last year.

Alliance Oil Company's oil production grew by 12% to 17.9 million barrels and refining volumes increased by 13% to 26.9 million barrels in 2011. The Company's profitability improved significantly. Consolidated EBITDA and net income increased by 57% and 45% respectively compared to 2010. Margins improved in both segments.

In the upstream segment, higher netbacks and production resulted in increased crude oil sales. Segment EBITDA improved by 77% year-on-year. The Company drilled a total of 52 production and 4 exploration wells in 2011 and also put necessary infrastructure into operation at the Kolvinskoye oil field which was launched in September. Further reserves were added resulting in an overall reserve replacement ratio of 154%. Total (3P) reserves grew by 2% to almost 1 billion barrels.

Alliance Oil and Repsol have agreed to create a joint venture for exploration and production growth in Russia with initial assets of approximately MUSD 840. Alliance Oil will transfer its Volga-Urals assets to the joint venture and Repsol will contribute cash and recently acquired gas assets in West Siberia. Through the joint venture, the Company's upstream prospects continue to improve as we create a platform for further growth in reserves and production and enter the Russian gas market.

In the downstream segment, the Company sold 27.6 million barrels of oil products in 2011. Segment EBITDA increased by 31% year-on-year. Despite an increase of taxes, transportation costs and cost of crude, downstream economics per barrel improved from USD 9.9 in 2010 to USD 11.4 in 2011.

The modernization of the Khabarovsk oil refinery progressed further. The second phase of a chemical water treatment plant, a boiler plant and a reagent farm were constructed in 2011. Designing works and contracting of equipment were almost completed and the project is well into the construction phase. Approximately one third of the construction works have been completed, and we expect the modernized refinery with new units to be operational in 2013.

The balance sheet position of the Company remained solid. Our debt portfolio is primarily long-term with a balanced currency mix. Total debt to EBITDA ratio improved in the fourth quarter of 2011 and reached 2.4 compared to 2.7 in the previous quarter. Currently our credit ratings are: S&P (B+), outlook Stable and Fitch (B), outlook Stable.

Outlook

The strategic objectives for the upstream segment in 2012 are to gradually increase oil production and further grow the reserve base through development of the existing assets and the joint venture with Repsol. The upstream production guidance for 2012 is an average daily production of 63,000-69,000 barrels.

The upstream capital expenditures are planned at 380-450 MUSD and primarily target further development of the Kolvinskoye field in the Timano-Pechora region and the Puglalymskoye field in the Tomsk region. At Kolvinskoye, the new reserve estimate supports developing the recently discovered Perm horizon in coming years. We are now in the process of updating our geological model of the field based on the data from the wells drilled so far and new seismic. Our long-term production and drilling program is aimed at capitalizing on the expanded reserve base. We continue production drilling although at a slower pace than last year, adding infrastructure and introducing adequate measures to maintain formation pressure. At the Puglalymskoye field, an intensive drilling program is planned to further develop the field and grow production in this region.

In the downstream segment, the upgrade of the Khabarovsk refinery, the connection to the East Siberia Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline to gradually replace railway deliveries of crude oil to the refinery from 2013, and the strengthening of the marketing arm are the key downstream projects. The average daily refining guidance for the downstream segment is at 68,000-73,000 barrels in 2012. Downstream capital expenditures are planned at 490-540 MUSD.

The business environment so far this year remains supportive for the Company's operations and financial performance. The upstream segment benefits from further oil price increases in 2012 and lower export duties. The downstream segment benefits from continued firm demand for oil products, while we remain cautious on downstream economics primarily due to the current regulatory environment and increasing domestic crude oil prices.

In summary, the Company's expanded reserve base supports long-term crude production growth in the upstream segment while the downstream projects are intended to further strengthen our market position with improved efficiency in the Russian Far East. Current operational performance and the new joint venture should support our growth oriented investment plans with higher levels of cash flow from operations in coming years.