“We are discussing this situation because we can’t make hasty decisions overnight. We need to find a solution. You know that we depend, I mean, on the supply of kerosene for the Chisinau airport. So we need to find a reasonable solution that would guarantee our safety. The airport is the gateway of the country and we cannot leave it without supplies, but we are thinking about this issue. And I promise that in the nearest future we will inform you what decisions will be taken,” the prime minister said.
In response to a question about the possible nationalization of certain assets of the activity, he added: “There are different decisions. We are thinking which way will be the best, because we need to observe our commitments and act within the law.”
Regional Development and Infrastructure Minister Vladimir Bolia assured that the Chisinau International Airport will not remain without fuel and that the situation is fully controlled.
“Obviously, from the very beginning, Moldova has set up a working group that is closely monitoring the situation, because we are talking about a supplier of oil products – gasoline, diesel and liquefied gas in Moldova, which has a very large share in the market, about 110 gas stations to serve individuals out of about 570 gas stations. That is, it is a major player and economic agent at the national level, as well as an importer and wholesaler of petroleum products. Obviously, this working group is fully monitoring the situation and I believe that, given its importance for the national economy as an importer and exporter, we should especially take into account that it is the only importer and seller of petroleum products for Chisinau airport”.
The minister assured that the situation is under control: “At the current stage, everything is under control and everything is working in a normal mode”.
He gave an affirmative answer to the question whether Moldova should join these sanctions and oust this company.
“Everybody should comply with these sanctions. Everyone, because when we join any sanctions against an aggressor, we are saying that we act in accordance with truth and justice,” Vladimir Bolia said.
As Logos-Press previously reported, the U.S. Treasury Department announced the imposition of sanctions against Lukoil. The restrictions also apply to all enterprises owned by the company by 50% or more, directly or indirectly. Against this background, Lukoil announced plans to sell its foreign assets. Lukoil operates in more than 30 countries, including Moldova, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Montenegro and Northern Macedonia. In Moldova, the company has three oil product storage bases, including a gas terminal, in addition to more than 100 gas stations.
The situation is really complicated. On October 30, Lukoil received an offer from Gunvor Group Ltd. to acquire LUKOIL International GmbH. This is Lukoil’s 100% “subsidiary” that owns the group’s foreign assets. And Gunvor CEO Torbjorn Ternqvist, in case the deal is approved by the U.S. regulatory authorities, did not rule out the resale of these assets to other companies. It is quite clear that the current Moldovan authorities would very much like to hand over Lukoil’s assets in Moldova to Romanian oil traders, as they do with all other major infrastructure facilities of the country. And for sure, the “underhand” struggle for these assets is already underway. It remains only to observe the development of the situation.
