In July-September 2012, Petrom posted gas sales volumes of 9.24 TWh, the report noted. Compared with the second quarter of 2013, however, sales volumes were down 2.26% in the third quarter.
Petrom’s hydrocarbon output was flat on the year at 182,000 barrels oil equivalent (boe) a day in the third quarter.
Groupwide, OMV reported a 7.4% decline in hydrocarbon production quarter-on-quarter to 275,000 boe a day, mainly due to production shut-ins following security issues and strikes in Libya and Yemen, OMV said. The shut-in at the Maari field in New Zealand also affected the group’s output.
Compared with the first three months of 2012, hydrocarbon production fell 11% in the third quarter.
The group’s gas sales volumes were slightly up compared with a quarter earlier to 85.94 TWh in July through September, but fell 14% on the year.
“Gas sales volumes decreased by 14% compared to Q3/12, mainly due to reduced trading activities in EconGas,” OMV said.
It said the EconGas margin remained negative, largely due to the persisting spread between long-term oil-linked gas supply and hub-priced sales.
“Negotiations continue with the major gas supply partners,” OMV added.
The group’s power business reported a total net electrical output of 1.18 TWh in the third quarter of 2013, but the performance was impacted by weak power markets in Romania and Turkey.
OMV Petrom is 51.01%-owned by Austrian group OMV. The Economy Ministry holds a 20.63% stake in the company, while investment fund Fondul Proprietatea (FP.RO) owns around 19%.
Thursday, Petrom closed down 0.5% at RON0.4421 in Bucharest.