We refer in this issue to the consolidation of the Russian oil industry into eleven large integrated operators. The size of these, especially the biggest, is remarkable. Lukoil's production base is around 1 million b/d; Yukos and Surgutneftegaz produce around 700, 000 b/d puting them in the ranks in the west of Mobil, Chevron, and Texaco. Sidanko 's refining capacity, the highest of the group at 750,000 b/d, whilst at most only around one half of the Majors' capacity, is on a par with that of several independent European refiners. The size of the groups and their integration yielding respectively economies of scale and diversity of income stream gives them enormous strength.