The FINANCIAL — Italian fuel from API has been available at Wissol branded service stations all over Georgia since September 10. This fact reflects the strategies fielded by Wissol in recent years to promote safe, environmentally friendly fuel and to respond to such high-priority challenges as better fuel economy, lower emissions and greater safety.
According to Vano Mtvralashvili, head of the Union of Oil Products Enterprisers, Importers and Consumers, API petrol prices will not rise significantly – just by 5 tetri.
“Petrol in Georgia is imported mostly from Romania and Bulgaria, API will be imported from Italy, the distance between the two countries is far and thus the cost of transportation makes oil products more expensive. However Wissol Petroleum Georgia cares about its customers and so the company is determined not to have very high prices for this oil product,” Vano Mtvralashvili declared at the press-conference.
According to Samson Pkhakadze, Chairman of the Directorate Council, the aim of Wissol Company was always to be the distributor of a European premium class brand in Georgia.
Today after more than 70 years API is one of the leading independent oil groups integrated in the downstream and power generation. API covers all downstream activities from supplying, the trading of crude oil, refining, storage and distribution.
The refinery of Falconara Marittima is one of the most modern and technologically advanced refineries in the world. API holds the lead position along the Adriatic cost from Venice to Toronto. On the inside market thanks to the acquisition of Italiana Petroli (IP) in 2005 API became number one in Italy.
“Following several months of negotiations with the Italian petroleum retailer API, the company’s fuels will be available at Wissol branded service stations. The strategic goal of JSC Wissol Petroleum Georgia was to become established as the #1 premium brand in Georgia which would then be distinguished as a seller of top quality oil products. By selling API fuel in the Wissol chain, Wissol has thus achieved its strategic goal,” Pkhakadze declared to The FINANCIAL.
According to Vasil Khorava, General Director of Wissol, at the beginning the Georgian market was loaded with non European oil products, and there were problems concerning illegal oil products imported form Azerbaijan, however now the situation is being regulated.
Established in 2000, the company completed its process of re-branding one year ago and entered the market with Swiss investments under the name Wissol. According to the Union of Oil Products Enterprisers, Importers and Consumers, Wissol is the leader today in the retail oil product market in Georgia, with the widest chain of service stations in the country as well. The company was acknowledged in 2006 as the largest oil company taxpayer. It transferred over GEL 42,8 million to the State Budget.
Wissol currently holds over 100 prime sites/licenses in its portfolio out of which 52 petrol stations are in operation, 28 in Tbilisi, and 24 nationwide in the following towns: Rustavi, Mtskheta, Khashuri, Kutaisi, Poti, Telavi, Gori, Zugdidi, Batumi, Zestaponi, Marneuli, Ureki, Khelvachauri, Akhalkalaqi, Gardabani, Sachkhere, Senaki and Borjomi.
According to Wissol Petroleum Georgia, the company offers the following product range at the following prices:
● Euro Products: Super Maxpower – GEL 1.80 Per litre (VAT included), Premium Power – GEL 1.65 Per litre (VAT included), and Euro Regular – GEL 1.50 Per litre (VAT included).
● Econom Pack (Non European Products): Regular Standard – GEL 1.45 Per litre (VAT included), and Diesel Standard – GEL 1.35 Per litre (VAT included).
Wissol Petroleum Georgia is the first company and provider of oil products in Georgia to receive the quality certificate under ISO 9001-2000 standards.
The amount of sales of the company exceeded USD 77 million during the first 7 months of 2007.
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