According to ZF, here is the most important news on the fuel market: 190 new MOL gas stations strengthen the position of the Hungarian oil company on the Romanian market.
MOL have recently purchased 42 Agip gas stations, the last remaining elements of the presence of the Italian group ENI on the local market. The Italians had entered the Romanian market in 1995. With this merger, MOL will create a network of almost 200 gas stations. The restoration and integration of the Agip stations into the MOL network will take some time, but the representatives of the company announce that they are currently focusing on a strategy of network optimization, so that they will not have to liquidate the already existing stations.
Apart from the old Agip stations, MOL have also founded 11 new gas stations of their own, reaching a turnover of almost one billion Euro (which the Magyars hope will be surpassed in the year 2015). Of course, we must also consider the fact that the transformation of the Agip stations will require a considerable budget, being a huge process of rebranding, but the awaited profit will surely make up for the expenses.
Presently, the strongest player on the Romanian oil market is OMV-Petrom. Rompetrol, the second name in the field, also plans a forceful “attack”. They have announced that the modernization of 90 points will be finished in the coming months (by September, 50 had already been transformed).
The oil market is, therefore, dominated by Petrom, Rompetrol, MOL and Lukoil, together owning 1400 gas stations. NIS and SOCAR are the new players in the section. Apart from the great brand, there are around 600 more independent stations.
Along with the Agip Romania network, MOL have also taken over the ENI stations in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia. Owning or renting a car has apparently become a necessity in Romania, which is reflected in the intense battle on the local oil market.