Contribution to the Russian state budget and war in Ukraine

Tatneft paid RUB 610 billion (EUR 8.1 billion) to the Russian government in taxes and other payments in 2021. As a result, Tatfeft contributes to Russia’s ability to finance the war and to perpetrate war crimes in Ukraine.  

In addition, international arbitration is pending between Tatneft and Ukraine, in which the company has sought disclosure of documents that Ukraine claimed would undermine its national security as it would include information about the nature and extent of Ukraine’s military, defence and intelligence resources and expenditures.  As of  January 2023, the parties have agreed to maintain a moratorium on the legal “discovery” proceedings under which the documents are being sought. 

Expanding presence in Iran

Iran is one of the Kremlin’s most steadfast supporters since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In  2016, Tatneft signed a preliminary agreement with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to cooperate in the development of the Dehloran oilfield in western Iran. In 2022, NIOC expressed its readiness to involve Gazprom, Rosneft and Tatneft in the development of gas and oil fields in Iran. 

In 2017, Tatneft was listed as one of the 100 largest global greenhouse gas emitters. Tatneft owns the Romashkino oil field, which is considered to be a “carbon bomb”. 

The World Benchmarking Alliance states that “Tatneft shows little evidence of any climate action or commitment for a low-carbon transition. The company discloses many intent and commitments but with little action or achievements to date”. The company has a target to reduce CO2 emissions by 10% by 2025 compared to 2016, which is insufficient to align with the aims of the Paris Agreement. 

The company continues to increase oil and gas production. In addition to the expansion plans in Iran, Tatneft has resumed oil exploration in Libya's Ghadames Basin and announced plans to increase oil production in Turkmenistan. The expansion of oil production is incompatible with the goals of the Paris Agreement. For example, the IEA has stated that no investments in new oil and gas fields are needed in a 1.5°C pathway beyond those approved in 2021. The IPCC has also stated that fossil fuel reserves under production or planned for production already overshoot the 1.5°C carbon budget.

Tatneft is ranked 3rd among Russian companies in regards to the number of oil spills for which it is responsible (data for 2011, 2018). In 2019, the Russian Prosecutor’s Office undertook legal proceedings against Tatneft regarding oil spills. In one of the cases, the oil spill affected a nature reserve of regional significance, Chatyr-Tau, a specially protected natural area. Another spill affected an area of 641 square metres and a water body within a nature reserve of regional significance.