In 1877, the brothers Ludvig, Robert and Alfred Nobel make plans for the new oil company, Branobel. All new knowledge of oil management is in the USA and the brothers send the Swedish engineer, Alfred Törnqvist, to Oil City in Virginia to learn about refining, storing and distributing oil.
In 1897, the young Swedish engineer, Anton Carlsund travels to Germany. He is employed by the Ludvig Nobel Engineering Works and is to take part in the annual meeting of German engineers. Here, he meets Rudolf Diesel and is fascinated by his invention. Back in St Petersburg, it also arouses the interest of Emanuel Nobel.
During the tumultuous years following the Russian Revolution, the power of the communist regime rapidly spread as far as Baku. In 1920, nationalisation was the beginning of the end for Branobel. Emanuel Nobel stated that “Nationalisation is a beautiful word for a very ugly thing.” But international companies soon started doing business with the new owners.
In the summer of 1896, the Russian imperial couple, Nicholas and Alexandra's coronation is celebrated with magnificent festivities, including an exhibition at which Branobel is represented. But the coronation party is surrounded by dramatic events.
At the end of the First World War, the position in the southern Caucasus was complicated by many interested parties around the oil fields: Turks, Englishmen, Germans, Russian Bolsheviks and also severe antagonism between Armenians and Tatars (Mohammedans). In February 1917, the Tsar abdicates and, in June 1918, the Soviet Regime nationalises all private property.
In 1970, 90 years after the foundation of the company and 50 years after its nationalisation, the end finally came. The remains of the huge oil empire had been managed, and reasonably protected, through two major wars. Ultimately, there were still assets worth close to SEK one billion.
By the end of the 19th century, the European oil companies had been resisting the American Standard Oil's attempts to gain a foothold in Europe and Russia for more than 30 years. But they had also been fighting among themselves, which made them vulnerable. Now they tried to merge.
In 1909, Branobel celebrates its 30th anniversary, the same year as its head, Emanuel Nobel, turns 50. Emanuel is given the title of His Excellency by the Russian state, which few private individuals were granted. There was every reason to celebrate – but in Baku the oil is beginning to run out...
The battle for the oil markets continued despite the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. The stakes for power over the Russian oil market were high and extremely uncertain, particularly as a result of the threat from the Bolsheviks of coming nationalism. There will be many turns in the game before Branobel's plants in the still independent Baku are finally sold to the American Standard Oil in 1920.
On a journey to Baku in 1874, Robert Nobel buys a small refinery and a parcel of land from the master of the river boat he is travelling with. Just a year later, he finds oil on the island of Cheleken in the Caspian Sea. This is the start of the oil industry that was to dominate the Russian oil market a long time into the future.
