MOBIL is in negotiations to sell all of its 18 WA petrol stations, according to industry sources.
Sources from within the petroleum and retailing industries believe Foodland Associated Limited is negotiating for the purchase of the service stations.
A spokesman for Mobil would not confirm if the petrol giant was intending to sell the sites to FAL.
“We are marketing the assets and we have been talking to a number of parties and we will finalise something in the next few months,” he said.
Industry sources spoken to by WA Business News suggested that FAL was an obvious contender for the sites, as the purchases would provide the group with discount options for its Action Supermarkets and chain of independent supermarkets, including Dewsons and SupaValu.
FAL would not comment on whether it was in purchasing negotiations with Mobil.
WA Business News understands environmental tests are currently taking place at Mobil petrol stations in WA. That is standard practice when selling assets of this type, according to the Mobil spokesman.
“It is industry standard to conduct environmental assessments when divesting,” he said.
FAL trialled discount fuel offers at Mobil and Gull Petroleum sites in 2003.
Coles Express (the partnership between Shell and Coles Myer) will launch its discount fuel retail operations in WA ahead of schedule on March 15.
Woolworths Limited signalled the market expansion of its petrol retailing business last year with the announcement of a joint venture operation with Caltex. Five co-branded Caltex Woolworths sites opened this year and Woolworths Plus outlets will be rebranded to Caltex Woolworths over the next few months.
