In 1993, Paulius Krolis died in a car accident. Ms Vitalija Kroliene, his wife, now works in his place.

To begin with, the company employed only three people: the shareholders and a secretary. It now has a staff of 158. In 1992 it built 5 filling stations, using income earnings, not credit.

In May 1993, another company, Kasneta, was founded by the same shareholders. It is a department involved mostly in construction work. Uotas started selling automobile oil in August 1994, and became the exclusive distributor of products from the American firm Quaker State in both Lithuania and the Ukraine. Since then, Kasneta has handled retail and wholesale trade in fuel and petroleum products.

Under a government decree of 1995, the petrol trade is subject to licences; retailers and wholesalers purchase a licence, and a special licence for fuel and oil sales is purchased separately. After a period of time, Kasneta turned over its duties to Uotas and was liquidated.

Uotas now installs and co-ordinates container-filling stations. A fuel container is a frame construction made of metal profiles and covered on the outside with Finnish profiled tin from Rannila. Containers are divided into two, each part consisting of two reservoirs of 7.3 m3, though the capacity may differ. Filling is done under a hermetic seal. The technology is ecologically harmless and complies with the strictest European requirements.

Uotas also assembles fuel-dispensing stations with computerised equipment that controls up to 16 pumps simultaneously. Clients who hold Uotas credit cards are served by a special computer which calculates discounts. The stations stock oil, spare parts, miscellaneous goods and refreshments.

The largest station, selling 4 types of petrol, is in Klaipeda. It is equipped with the most modern equipment and has become well established. One operator is able to serve two customers from both sides of the building. Uotas filling station projects in Lithuania conform to the rules issued by the Environmental Protection Department.

Mrs Vitalija Kroliene, President of the company.

Palanga Fuel Station.