The puzzling Glencore-Qatari-Rosneft deal
The sale of a stake in Russia's largest oil producer might not be as significant as many thought
On the surface, the €10.2bn ($10.8bn) sale of a 19.5% stake in Rosneft, to Glencore and the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), looks good business all around. The Russian treasury gets some much-needed cash; Qatar diversifies into Russian oil; and Glencore will buy another 220,000 barrels a day of Rosneft's crude for the next five years. Glencore chief executive Ivan Glasenberg said the deal showed the "strong relationships that already exist between Rosneft, QIA and Glencore". Western sanctions have sought to prevent such relationships - and investments - and hurt Russian firms. This deal showed Russia's resilience to the financial embargo. Announced on 10 December, it valued Rosneft at €52b
Also in this section
6 February 2026
The long close relationship between key supplier Qatar and pivotal buyer Japan becomes even deeper following new landmark deal
6 February 2026
Partnerships across the LNG value chain have evolved over time, growing in both complexity and importance, according to panellists at LNG2026
6 February 2026
Nigeria's mega-refinery is still trying to solve many challenges, all while its owner talks up expansion
5 February 2026
While broadly supportive of EU efforts to tackle methane emissions, representatives of the gas industry warn it could deter supply contracting if timelines and compliance requirements are not made more pragmatic
