Three companies that are interested in purchasing the assets of the Russian energy company "Lukoil" in Romania are conducting direct negotiations with the company, Romanian Energy Minister Bogdan Ivan said today, quoted by the economic publication "Profit" and Reuters, BTA reported.
"Lukoil" has 320 gas stations in Romania, is the operator of the third largest oil refinery and has rights for offshore exploration in a block in the Black Sea.
"There are currently three companies that have expressed intentions to purchase the assets of "Lukoil" - both the refinery and the gas stations, and they are in direct negotiations with the holding," Ivan said, quoted by the online publication "Profit".
"We were notified a few weeks ago, we are in contact and a deal is about to be concluded between two private companies, and our interest is obviously for this transaction to be carried out as soon as possible", the minister added.
Romania is currently working on a draft law that would allow the country to temporarily take control of the assets, if necessary, Reuters reminds.
The "Petrotel" refinery in Ploiesti is currently closed for maintenance, and Romanian officials have told the EU that the country has enough reserves to ensure that market supplies will not be affected.
The "Lukoil" refinery in Romania provides nearly a quarter of the fuels on the Romanian market.
The US sanctions against the "Petrotel" refinery came into effect on Friday, November 21, and the sanctions against "Lukoil" gas stations in Romania are set to come into effect on December 13.