Ljubljana, 14 December (STA) - Energy trader Petrol plans to generate EUR 5.6bn in sales revenue at group level in 2019 and a net profit of EUR 96.7m. The business plan, approved by the supervisory board and released on Friday, envisages EUR 101m in fixed asset investments. It is announcing a focus on innovative business models and 18 new service stations for a total of 515.
Petrol expects to secure the target by selling "3.3m tonnes of petroleum products, 193.3 thousand tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, and 20.8 TWh of natural gas, through merchandise sales and related services of EUR 609.1m and through electricity production, trading and sales".
The company, which saw a 18% year-on-year rise in sales revenue to EUR 3.91m after three quarters and a net profit rise of 14%, has not provided estimates for the final 2018 results for comparison with the 2019 targets, but the 2018 plans put sales revue at EUR 4.5bn and net profit at EUR 86.9m.
By the end of 2019, Petrol expects its retail network to consist of 515 service stations, of which 320 are to be located in Slovenia, 113 in Croatia, 40 in Bosnia-Herzegovina, 16 in Serbia, 15 in Montenegro and 11 in Kosovo.
The group's EBITDA is planned to amount to EUR 186.4m in 2019, 50% of which will be generated through petroleum product sales, 20% through merchandise sales and related services, 13% through energy and environmental solutions, 9% through LPG sales, 5% through the sales of and trading in other energy products, and 3% through renewable electricity generation.
Investment policy will be focused on the consolidation of the sales position in Slovenia, the boosting of sales in SE Europe markets, and on the expansion of operations in the area of energy and environmental systems. Particular attention will be given to the development of innovative business models, the business plan moreover states.