The positive dynamics of our financial results was mainly due to a sharp increase in hydrocarbon prices in 2011 compared with 2010.
Net income for the fourth quarter 2011 was negatively affected by $955 million losses due to the write-off of assets caused by the revaluation of the Yuzhnoye Khylchuyu field reserves.
The Company’s strict financial discipline and cost control helped generate a record high free cash flow in 2011 compared with previous years. The free cash flow reached $7,240 million in 2011 compared with $6,930 million in 2010. The capital expenditures, including non-cash transactions, in 2011 were $8,492 million, which is 24.1% higher than in 2010.
Hydrocarbon production costs per boe reached $4.71 in 2011, having increased by 14.3% y-o-y, mainly due to the appreciation of the ruble against the US dollar.
Commercial hydrocarbon production by LUKOIL Group for 2011 amounted to 2,140 thousand boe per day, which is 4.4% below y-o-y.
In 2011, throughputs at the Company’s own and affiliated refineries (including its share in crude-oil and petroleum-product throughput at the ISAB and TRN refining complexes) decreased by 1.9% y-o-y down to 64.92 million tons. Throughputs at the Company’s refineries in Russia increased by 0.1% y-o-y, throughputs at the international refineries decreased by 6.3% y-o-y. The shutdown of the Odessa refinery as a result of unfavorable economic conditions mainly accounts for the decrease in international throughputs in 2011.
Measures aimed at higher efficiency and cost control allow the Company to generate a strong free cash flow and increase the net income.