Page 19 - EurOil Week 13 2021

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MOL’s Slovakian unit buys 16 Deepsea Nordkapp semi-submersible
drilling rig, owned by Odfjell Drilling.
Lukoil petrol stations Floatel secures extended after concluding the drilling of appraisal
The rig will move to drill for Equinor
Slovnaft, the Slovakian unit of Hungarian contract at Martin Linge well 25/2-2 S for Aker BP ASA in
oil and gas company MOL, has acquired a production licence 442.
100% stake in Normbenz Slovakia which Floatel, a provider of offshore accommodation The drilling programe for well 7322/6-
operates 16 Lukoil petrol stations in the rigs for the international offshore energy 1 S relates to drilling an appraisal well in
country, MOL said on March 24. The deal industry, has secured a contract extension for production licence 722. Equinor is the
is pending regulatory approval by the its Floatel Endurance semi-submersible unit operator with an ownership interest of 45
Slovakian competition authorities. The in Norway. percent. The other licensees are AkerBP
filling stations with national coverage are Floatel, which last week announced (20 percent), Lundin Energy Norway (20
a good complement to Slovnaft’s already it had successfully completed its percent), and Sval Energi (15 percent).
existing network of 254 stations. comprehensive balance sheet restructuring, The area in this licence consists of parts
“The acquisition is an opportunity for on Monday said that Norwegian oil firm of the block(s) 7322/6 and 7323/4. The
us to expand our presence in the country Equinor had extended the contract for the well will be drilled about 350 km north
and introduce our Fresh Corner concept at Floatel Endurance rig. of Hammerfest and 50 km west of the
new filling stations with premium gastro “The company is pleased to announce 7324/7-2 (Hansen) and 7324/8-1 (Wisting)
products and other services,” said Peter that Floatel Endurance’s contract at discovery wells.
Ratatics, MOL Group Vice President of Equinor’s Martin Linge field has been
Customer Service. extended to 29 June 2021,” Floatel said.
Fresh Corner concept was launched in Equinor will have further options to Hoegh LNG going private
2015 at MOL’s filling stations in Hungary extend the contract.
and abroad. The chain has now grown to Equinor has been using the flotel in approved
955 stores, and the concept has contributed support of work to bring online the Martin
greatly to the consumer services segment’s Linge field in the North Sea, off Norway. Shareholders of Norway’s floating terminal
record results in 2020, increasing the After years of delays, the file is expected to projects company Hoegh LNG have voted
group’s ebitda by $510mn, MOL said. go online sometime this year. in favor of the merger plan with funds
MOL has also signed a contract Floatel Endurance is a semi-submersible managed by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure
with Marché International AG to buy accommodation and construction support Partners.
a company operating nine restaurants vessel (floatel) designed for harsh- The approval paves the way for Höegh
in Hungary, allowing MOL to take its environment. LNG to go private, delisting its shares from
gastronomic offering to a new level and The 2015-built rig, which can the Oslo Stock Exchange.
reach a wider audience with retail services. accommodate 440 people in single bed The company’s main owner Leif Höegh
MOL’s expanding its reach in the cabins, replaced the Floatel Superior unit and Co. (LHC) and acquisition funds
regional retail fuel market fits into its at Martin Linge in early November 2019. managed by Morgan Stanley Infrastructure
2030 strategy, which also prioritises The rig was last year involved in an Partners (MSIP) together submitted bids
diversification from its core operation, incident after the gangway connecting for the rest of the company in early March.
shifting to new areas, such as the Floatel Endurance and the Martin The plan was to take the company off
petrochemicals, retail and mobility. In Linge platform disconnected. No personal the stock exchange and into private hands
its latest update, MOL added the circular injuries were suffered. to accelerate commercial development.
economy as a key area. LHC and Morgan Stanley will, through
The company is present in 10 countries a 50/50 joint venture, Larus Holding
with nearly 2,000 petrol stations, up by Equinor gets approval for Ltd, acquire the remaining shares of the
more than 200 over the last five years. company not currently owned by LHC
Growth came mostly from acquisitions. Barents well or its affiliates, by way of amalgamation
In 2015, it completed the takeover of between Larus Limited, a subsidiary of
ENI’s subsidiaries in the Czech Republic, Norwegian oil and gas company Equinor has JVCo, and the company.
Slovakia and Romania, including the retail won a drilling permit to drill an appraisal well The offer for all of the company’s shares
network of 208 petrol stations previously in the Barents Sea, offshore Norway. (expcept those owned by LHC) is NOK23.5
operated under the Agip brand. MOL he Norwegian Petroleum Directorate per share..
became the second-largest player in the (NPD), which granted the permit, said
Czech Republic after buying the 125 Equinor would drill the well, formally
stations from the Italian group. known as well 7322/6-1 S, using the

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