Category: russian

The 6 Biggest Russian Energy Companies

The 6 Biggest Russian Energy Companies

Russia ranks high among the top energy-producing countries in the world. According to the most recent industry data available, Russia is the world’s single biggest producer of crude oil, the second-biggest producer of natural gas and the sixth-biggest producer of coal. Russia also ranks as the fourth-biggest producer of both nuclear power and hydropower.

Most of Russia’s biggest energy companies, including global giants such as Gazprom, Rosneft, and Lukoil, operate primarily in the oil and gas industry, with interests spanning the full length of the oil and gas supply chain. However, a hydroelectric power company, RusHydro, also makes a showing on this list of Russia’s biggest energy companies by market capitalization.

1. Gazprom

Gazprom is Russia’s biggest energy company by a substantial margin. The company controls the largest natural gas reserves in the world, from which it produced more than 2.6 billion barrel of oil equivalents (BOE) in 2014, accounting for 72% of Russia’s total gas output for the year. Oil production amounted to about 257 million barrels. Additionally, Gazprom’s gas turbine power plants account for about 15% of Russia’s installed power generating capacity. Gazprom is ultimately controlled by the Russian government, which holds just over 50% of the company’s outstanding shares. Its market capitalization is nearly $50.5 billion.

2. Rosneft

Rosneft is Russia’s biggest oil producer, accounting for more than 40% of total output in 2014. The company reported production of more than 1.5 billion barrels, more than double the production of its closest competitor, Lukoil. Rosneft also produced over 345 million BOE of natural gas, making it the third-largest gas producer in the country. Rosneft has a market capitalization of more than $41 billion. Nearly 70% of its outstanding shares are held by the Russian state.

3. Lukoil

Lukoil produced about 707 million barrels of oil and more than 92 million BOE of natural gas in 2014 to place it firmly in the top tier of Russian energy giants. Like Gazprom and Rosneft, Lukoil controls large gas and oil reserves inside Russia in addition to substantial operations outside the country. Although the company’s power generation assets have grown substantially in recent years, it accounts for less than 1% of the country’s installed generation capacity. Lukoil has a market capitalization of more than $28.3 billion.

4. Surgutneftegas

Although Surgutneftegas has no substantial business operations outside Russia, it ranks among the world’s largest 250 companies in any industry. It reported production of about 447 million barrels of oil and more than 55 million BOE of natural gas in 2014. The company also maintains a power generation business primarily to produce electricity for its own oil and gas production and processing operations. Surgutneftegas has a market capitalization of over $19.2 billion.

5. Tatneft

Tatneft is another integrated oil and gas company with primary operations focused on the domestic market. It is a far smaller producer than its Russian rivals, reporting production of about 193 million barrels of oil and about 5.5 million BOE of natural gas in 2014. Tatneft’s production and refining operations are focused in Tatarstan, a republic in the Russian Federation. Roughly 36% of the company’s outstanding shares are held by the Tatarstan government. Tatneft has a market capitalization of more than $10.6 billion.

6. RusHydro

RusHydro is the biggest hydroelectric power company in the Russian utilities industry. As of 2014, the company has a total installed electricity generation capacity of about 38.5 gigawatts, just less than Gazprom’s 39 gigawatts of installed capacity. RusHydro also has ongoing wind, tidal and geothermal energy projects, many of which are still in the research and development phase. The Russian state holds nearly 67% of outstanding shares in RusHydro. The company has a market capitalization of nearly $3.5 billion.

Here are the 5 biggest Russian oil companies

As the world’s third-largest oil producer and second-largest natural gas producer, Russia is home to some of the biggest integrated oil and gas companies in the world. In fact, Russia’s biggest companies by oil production volume include several mainstays on lists of the world’s biggest companies.

All of Russia’s largest oil companies maintain substantial upstream and downstream oil and gas operations, including sprawling exploration and production divisions, petroleum refineries and petrochemical plants, and retail service stations. The top five oil companies are ranked here according to oil production volume in 2014, the most recent year for which figures are available.

1. Rosneft

Rosneft is Russia’s biggest oil company, with reported production of about 1.5 billion barrels in 2014. The company also ranks as Russia’s third biggest natural gas company, with production amounting to more than 345 million barrel of oil equivalents (BOE). Rosneft has a market capitalization of nearly $38.7 billion, making it the highest publicly valued company in this list.

Rosneft maintains exploration and production activities across Russia and in 10 other countries, including the United States, Canada, Brazil, Norway and Vietnam. It operates 13 refineries in Russia and has an interest in seven additional refineries in Western and Eastern Europe. Rosneft also operates a network of over 2,400 retail gasoline service stations and is Russia’s largest supplier of jet fuel.

2. Lukoil

Lukoil produced nearly 707 million barrels of oil in 2014 and ranked as the second-biggest producer in the country. The company’s natural gas production came in at more than 92 million BOE on the year. It has a market capitalization of more than $27.7 billion.

In addition to gas and oil exploration and production activities across Russia, Lukoil operates in 12 other countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Its refining and petrochemical operations include six refineries in Russia and an interest in five more refineries in New Zealand and Europe. Lukoil also operates power generation facilities in Russia and gasoline service stations in Russia, Europe and the U.S.

3. Gazprom Neft

Gazprom Neft is a subsidiary of the Russian energy giant Gazprom. Although Gazprom Neft has an independent listing on the Moscow Exchange, its parent holds more than 95% of its outstanding shares. The Russian government, in turn, holds 50% of Gazprom shares.

Gazprom Neft produced about 482 million barrels of oil in 2014. Natural gas production amounted to about 104 million BOE during the year. The company has production operations in Russia, Iraq, Venezuela and several other countries. It operates four refineries in Russia and another in Belarus. Nearly 1,750 Gazprom Neft service stations operate in Russia and Europe. Gazprom Neft has a market capitalization of nearly $10.5 billion.

4. Surgutneftegas

Surgutneftegas falls just behind Gazprom Neft with crude oil production of nearly 447 million barrels in 2014. Gas production rose to about 55.3 million BOE on the year. The company’s operations are mostly confined to the domestic market. In addition to its exploration and production activities, the company operates a refinery and a gas processing plant, produces petrochemicals, and runs a power generation business. Surgutneftegas also operates nearly 300 service stations. It has a market capitalization of over $18.5 billion.

5. Tatneft

Tatneft produced almost 193 million barrels of oil in 2014, in addition to gas production of almost 5.5 million BOE. The company produces oil and gas primarily within Russia, although international projects are in development. Tatneft operates a refining and petrochemical complex, a second refining facility and a gas processing plant. A tire manufacturing facility is housed in the refining and petrochemical complex, where a total of 12.5 million tires were produced in 2013. Tatneft distributes refined petroleum products through its network of more than 650 service stations in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. The company has a market capitalization of more than $9.7 billion.