SOONRUTH BUNYAMANEE
Shell and Petronas are interested in acquiring the Jet petrol stations operated by Conoco (Thailand) Co.
The US-based oil company has decided to withdraw from Thailand after failing to break even after 15 years.
The firm has quietly approached several oil companies operating locally, including PTT Plc, about selling its 147 petrol stations nationwide. Industry executives now believe Conoco will call for public bids for the Thai operations in the near future.
“We’re interested in participating in the bids once Conoco begins the process,” said Tiraphot Vajrabhaya, the chairman of Shell Company of Thailand.
He said the multinational was always exploring opportunities to expand, particularly in Asia Pacific, under its “move from West to East” strategy.
“However, the final decision of Shell (regarding Conoco) will depend on conditions, the market situation, potential and pricing,” he said.
Conoco is estimated to have invested more than four billion baht in its Thai operations but Mr Tiraphot said the price of any acquisition was likely to be lower once depreciation and current market value were taken into account.
For one thing, he said, the current climate of the retail oil business in Thailand was very poor. “With minimal margins for retail oil trading, we will definitely not expand the business this year.”
He expected the bidding process, if it went ahead, to last for six to 12 months.
Mr Tiraphot said Shell would invest 200 million baht for general maintenance of its stations to sustain businesses for this year, substantially lower than its normal investment of 700-800 million baht a year.
Shell has been closing around 10 poorly performing stations per year and now has 580 sites, a figure it expects will decline to around 500 over time.
A Petronas executive confirmed that the Malaysian company planned to bid for the Jet stations to strengthen its presence in Thailand.
However, Mohd Aidnil Abdul Razak, chief executive of Petronas Retail (Thailand) Co Ltd, said the company would not expand its network this year beyond the 117 stations it now has.
“We are always seeking opportunities to expand business, but if Conoco formally opens bidding, I will have to convey the message to my headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and the decision will be made there,” he said.
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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