Azov Lubricants and Oils
Azov Lubricants and Oils, later rebranded as AZMOL British Petrochemicals, is a Ukrainian producer of lubricants and petrochemical products founded in Berdiansk in 1937.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Azov Lubricants and Oils, commonly abbreviated as AZMOL, is a Ukrainian lubricants and petrochemicals business historically based in Berdiansk, in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The enterprise began operations in 1937 as the Berdiansk Experimental Oil and Grease Plant, known by the Soviet-era abbreviation BONMZ. Its original industrial role was the manufacture of lubricants, greases, oils, and related petroleum-based products. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Ukraine's transition to a market economy, the plant was converted into a joint-stock company in 1994. The State Property Fund of Ukraine held the company's shares, and proposals were later made to privatize the enterprise. The planned transition away from state ownership did not proceed smoothly. During the 2000s and early 2010s, the company experienced declining revenue, mounting losses, wage arrears, and deteriorating infrastructure. Production eventually stopped in 2013 amid unpaid wages and the loss of functioning electricity, gas, and banking services. Bankruptcy proceedings began in late 2013. In 2015, the Commercial Court of Zaporizhzhia Oblast formally declared the company bankrupt and initiated liquidation proceedings after determining that a realistic restart plan had not been demonstrated. The State Property Fund preferred restructuring rather than liquidation, but the restructuring proposal did not prevent the liquidation process. The company's assets were subsequently sold at auction in 2016, with Ultra Oil of Dnipro acquiring the property for 101.5 million hryvnias, below the stated asking price. The enterprise was revived in 2017 after its acquisition by the British company Global Lubricants Ltd., associated with Terry Dicken. It was rebranded AZMOL British Petrochemicals, with an investment program intended to modernize production, restore employment, and rebuild export operations. Production had resumed fully by September 2017. The revitalized business established contracts in several Asian and Central Asian markets, employed approximately 500 people at that stage, and was reported to hold roughly 7–8 percent of Ukraine's lubricant market. Its reported annual production capacity or output was approximately 200,000 tonnes, although the available reference does not clearly distinguish between capacity and actual production. Between the relaunch and 2021, the owners invested approximately 10 million euros in bottling equipment, storage facilities, and a production line for diesel exhaust fluid. By 2021, the company was reported to export to 54 countries and supply Ukrainian industrial customers, including Motor Sich. This period marked the brand's transformation from a distressed state-linked industrial plant into an export-oriented lubricant producer under British ownership. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the occupation of Berdiansk in 2022 fundamentally disrupted the business. Individuals aligned with Ukrainian parliamentarian Oleksandr Ponomaryov seized control of the Berdiansk plant, according to the reference material. Ponomaryov disputed allegations that he collaborated with the occupation authorities and said that he had been tortured and coerced. The business subsequently split. The British owners relocated production outside the occupied territory, first to Kutaisi in Georgia and later, in 2023, to Chinaz in Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, occupation authorities re-registered the Berdiansk facility under the name Azovskie Smazki i Masla and placed it under state management in 2024. Plans were also reported to restore the Soviet-era BONMZ name. Because the sources describe separate post-2022 corporate and industrial continuities, the present legal and commercial status of the original AZMOL entity requires further verification.
History
The Berdiansk Experimental Oil and Grease Plant began operating in 1937 in Berdiansk, then part of the Soviet industrial system. It became known by the abbreviation BONMZ and developed as a producer of oils, greases, and other lubricant products. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the enterprise was privatized in legal form and became a joint-stock company in 1994, while the State Property Fund of Ukraine retained all shares. Although full privatization was discussed in 2006, the change in ownership did not take place as planned. The company deteriorated during the following years. By 2011, its losses had reached 27.1 million hryvnias and its net revenue had fallen substantially from earlier levels. In October 2013, operations stopped amid wage debts exceeding 10 million hryvnias. The plant also lacked functioning electricity, gas, and banking accounts. Bankruptcy proceedings were announced in December 2013 by the Commercial Court of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. In April 2015, the court declared AZMOL bankrupt and began liquidation. Eighteen creditors submitted financial claims. The State Property Fund argued for restructuring, but the available account does not identify a workable restructuring plan. In August 2016, the company's property was auctioned for 101.5 million hryvnias, below the 156 million hryvnia asking price. Ultra Oil, a company based in Dnipro, bought the assets. The plant was soon revived under new ownership. In May 2017, Global Lubricants Ltd. of the United Kingdom, associated with Terry Dicken, took over the facility. The company adopted the name AZMOL British Petrochemicals and announced plans to modernize equipment, restore employment, and focus exports on Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Full production resumed by September 2017. The revived operation employed approximately 500 people, supplied around 7–8 percent of the Ukrainian lubricant market, and was associated with production of about 200,000 tonnes per year. The post-revival investment program included approximately 10 million euros for new bottling machinery, storage infrastructure, and a diesel exhaust fluid production line. By 2021, the company had reportedly expanded its export network to 54 countries and supplied customers in Ukraine, including Motor Sich. This period represented the company's strongest documented expansion and gave AZMOL an international industrial footprint despite its relatively specialized brand profile. The 2022 Russian invasion and occupation of Berdiansk caused a major corporate rupture. The Berdiansk facility was seized by individuals reportedly aligned with Oleksandr Ponomaryov. Ponomaryov rejected accusations of voluntary cooperation with Russian occupation authorities, stating that he had been tortured and forced to cooperate. The company then divided into separate continuities. The British owners relocated production to Kutaisi, Georgia, and subsequently to Chinaz, Uzbekistan, while the occupied Berdiansk facility was re-registered by occupation authorities under the name Azovskie Smazki i Masla. In February 2024, that facility was placed under state management associated with the Corporation for the Development of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, with reports that the BONMZ name would later be restored. The legal relationship between the relocated AZMOL operation and the re-registered Berdiansk plant remains unclear.
- 2024
Occupied facility placed under state management
[1]The Berdiansk facility is re-registered as Azovskie Smazki i Masla and transferred to occupation-linked state management.
- 2022
Occupation disrupts the Berdiansk operation
[1]The Russian occupation of Berdiansk leads to the seizure of the plant and the subsequent split between the relocated British-owned operation and the occupied facility.
- 2021
Export network reaches 54 countries
[1]AZMOL British Petrochemicals is reported to export to 54 countries and serve Ukrainian industrial customers.
- 2017
British ownership and rebranding
[1]Global Lubricants Ltd. takes over the facility, relaunches it, and adopts the AZMOL British Petrochemicals name.
- 2016
Industrial assets auctioned
[1]The plant's property is sold to Ultra Oil for 101.5 million hryvnias.
- 2015
Liquidation ordered
[1]The Commercial Court of Zaporizhzhia Oblast declares AZMOL bankrupt and initiates liquidation.
- 2013
Operations cease and bankruptcy proceedings begin
[1]The plant stops operating amid wage arrears, unpaid liabilities, and loss of essential utilities and banking services.
- 1994
Conversion into a Ukrainian joint-stock company
[1]Following the end of the Soviet period, the enterprise becomes a joint-stock company, with the State Property Fund of Ukraine retaining the shares.
- 1937
Berdiansk plant begins operations
[1]The Berdiansk Experimental Oil and Grease Plant, known as BONMZ, starts producing lubricants and related petroleum products.
Products and positioning
A Ukrainian industrial lubricant and petrochemical producer with Soviet-era manufacturing roots, later repositioned as an export-focused business through British investment and modernization.
Lubricants
Automotive lubricants
Lubricant products for vehicles formed part of AZMOL's core manufacturing scope. The available reference identifies the company as a major Ukrainian lubricant producer but does not provide a complete product catalogue or specific formulation names.
Industrial lubricants · 1937
Industrial oils and greases
The plant's historic identity as an oil and grease works reflects its production of industrial oils, greases, and related petrochemical materials. These products supported the company's role in Ukrainian industrial supply and export markets.
Automotive chemicals
Diesel exhaust fluid
A diesel exhaust fluid production line was added during the post-2017 investment program. The available source does not identify the product's commercial name, specification, or current availability.
Brand decisions
2022
Relocation of production after the occupation of BerdianskStrategyBackground
The Russian occupation of Berdiansk disrupted control of the original plant and resulted in its seizure and subsequent re-registration by occupation authorities.
Action taken
The British owners relocated production to Kutaisi, Georgia, and later to Chinaz, Uzbekistan.
Aftermath
The business split between the relocated operation and the occupied Berdiansk facility, making the current corporate identity and ownership structure uncertain.
2017
Global Lubricants acquires the plantM&ABackground
After bankruptcy, liquidation, and the auction of the plant's assets, the Berdiansk operation was taken over by Global Lubricants Ltd. of the United Kingdom.
Action taken
The new owner resumed production, associated the business with Terry Dicken, and rebranded it AZMOL British Petrochemicals.
Aftermath
Production restarted by September 2017, followed by modernization, new employment, expanded exports, and the addition of diesel exhaust fluid manufacturing.
Sources1 sources
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