OREANDA-NEWS. A grand opening of Shell & Aerofuels refueling complex was held at Pulkovo Airport. Shell & Aerofuels - a joint venture of Aerofuels Group and Shell Aviation Ltd., one of the world leaders among the international fuel suppliers - became the second operator in St. Petersburg jet fuel market.

A large-scale press conference dedicated to this event was held at Crowne Plaza Hotel. Oleg Grinchenko Head of Northwest Interregional Territorial Department of Air Transport of Federal Air Transport Agency, Sergey Emdin CEO of Northern Capital Gateway LLC, Vladimir Spiridonov CEO of Aerofuels Group and Paul Cluett CEO of ZAO Shell & Aerofuels took part in it.

The annual fuel consumption at Pulkovo Airport amounted to 400 thousand tons. By the end of 2013 the share of ZAO Shell & Aerofuels refueling operations will amount to 5-7% of the total consumption. According to experts, this rate will be increased. Competition on the fuel supply market will reduce fuel prices and upgrade quality of service rendered to airlines.

“Negotiations between the Airport and ZAO Shell & Aerofuels were started in spring 2012 and rounded out in the beginning of 2013. Currently, two companies – ZAO Shell & Aerofuels and SOVEX CJSC – render fueling service within St. Petersburg Airport. The introduction of a new fuelling company is the first important step towards the competitive market establishment at Pulkovo” said Sergey Emdin CEO of Northern Capital Gateway LLC.

“The development of effective competition will strengthen flight safety due to improvement of provided services quality and introduction not only Russian but international refueling standards as well as reduce fuel costs of airlines. Later on demonopolization may result in reduction of flight costs, passenger flow increase and further boost of the Airport prestige” said Vladimir Spiridonov CEO of Aerofuels Group.

The new jet fuel operator is certified by the Federal Air Transport Agency as well as audited on a regular basis and confirms the highest quality of its services totally complying with the Shell Aviation aircraft refueling standards. The Company has its own pool of refueling equipment agreeable to Russian and international standards. The fuel is inspected by the jet fuels quality control laboratory.

Shell&Aerofuels

The Company was organized in June 2001 by Aerofuels Group and Shell Aviation - one of the world leaders among the fuel suppliers. It operates successfully at Moscow Domodedovo Airport and started production activities at Pulkovo Airport. Shell & Aerofuels is internationally audited on a regular basis and confirms the highest quality of its into plane services totally complying with the Shell Aviation aircraft refueling standards. In accordance with the IATA standards the company maintains insurance amounting to USD 1 billion per insured accident relating to aircraft refueling, thus providing foreign companies with an opportunity to land for refueling without any limitation. In 2010 ZAO Shell and Aerofuels stood out against other Shell Aviation companies and received a silver award for complying with the corporate HSSE (Health, Safety, Security & Environmental) standards in its activity at Domodedovo Airport. The Company holds 50 contracts with 50 foreign air carriers.

Aerofuels Group

Aerofuels Group is one of the largest operators of refueling complexes in the Russian Federation with the network consisting of 19 refueling complexes. The Company organizes and provides refueling services at 29 airports located in the RF territory – from Pskov to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky – and more than 1000 airports abroad. About 110 Russian companies and 50 leading foreign companies are customers of Aerofuels Group. Since 1999 the company is actively engaged in refurbishment and construction of civil aviation organizations. It invested 4 billion rubles in construction of refueling complexes in the Russian Federation. Shell & Aerofuels is a joint venture of Aerofuels Group and Shell Aviation.