In July, OKKO Group received first 20 new tank cars manufactured at TAS-Poltavvagon. The contract provides for the production of 100 such tank cars in total. OKKO is expected to receive the entire batch in early 2025.
“So far, we have had 45 of our own tank cars in operation. Some of them were used, some were intended for bitumen transportation, but now they are being repurposed for diesel fuel. In addition, the company leases more than 400 tank cars. By adding another 100 of new units to this number, OKKO will become a powerful private operator of tank car wagons for the transportation of petroleum products in Ukraine. Only “Ukrzaliznytsia” has a bigger fleet, COMMENTED DENIS GROMOV, OKKO LOGISTICS DIRECTOR.
According to him, the new rolling stock will significantly increase OKKO's logistics abilities, allowing it to import petroleum products to Ukraine faster and more profitably, as well as providing transportation services to other market participants.
OKKO chose the tanker manufacturer among three Ukrainian companies in a tender. The possibility of engaging foreign companies was also considered, but their products must be certified in Ukraine, and certification could have taken longer. Instead, it took six months from the signing of the contract with TAS-Poltavvagon to the production of the first batch. The tank cars for oil products of the 15-1755 model have carrying capacity of 68 tons. The service life of such a tank car is 32 years.
“It’s not the first experience of cooperation between OKKO and TAS-Poltavagon. Previously, our company has already supplied fuel storage tanks to the OKKO’s filling stations. And the current contract gives us the opportunity, together with our partner, to contribute to strengthening the fuel security of Ukraine, restore the status of a manufacturer of oil tanks and prove our leadership in this market,” SAID YURIY PYSAREVSKY, CEO OF TAS-POLTAVAGON. “I must admit that it is extremely difficult to maintain the required production rates. For us, every day is a struggle to fulfill our obligations to our customers in good faith and maintain our reputation as a reliable partner. Constant hostile shelling of the region where our production facilities are located, long-term power outages, staff shortages and employee booking issues are serious challenges for TAS-Poltavagon. However, I am 100% confident that we will fulfill the order on time and in full.”
We would also like to remind you that in 2022-2023 OKKO significantly renewed its own fleet of vehicles for transportation of petroleum products. The company continues to develop the transportation and logistics business in the future - investments in railroad tanks will be several times larger. The advance payment under the current contract alone amounted to UAH 100 million.