Russian Lukoil Claims It Was Misled About Postponed Installation of Measuring Devices

A file photo showing the Lukoil logo on top of the Lukoil headquarters building in Moscow. Photo by BGNES

Lukoil Spokesperson Dmitry Dolgov said Wednesday that the Russian side had been led to believe that it had successfully negotiated the postponement of the installation of measuring devices by the end of 2011 with the Bulgarian authorities.

"On Friday, July 22, the situation looked different. We thought that we had reached an agreement with the customs about postponing the installation of measuring devices by the end of the year", Dolgov told Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

His comment coincided with the meeting between Finance Minister Simeon Djankov, Lukoil Bulgaria CEO Valentin Zlatev and Customs Agency head Vanyo Tanov.

The spokesperson of the Russian oil giant further informed that the management of the company had arrived in Sofia and was in talks with representatives of the Bulgarian authorities.

Dolgov also added that the company could not immediately confirm the cancellation of the Burgas-based refinery's permit.

Earlier the same day it was announced that Customs Agency Director Vanyo Tanov had terminated the license of the Lukoil Neftochim refinery for operating the Neftochim Burgas and the Oil Terminal Rosenetz tax warehouses.

Speaking ahead of the Wednesday meeting, Finance Minister Djankov dispelled fears that a crisis was looming on the local fuel market.

"There are enough licensed fuel importers to Bulgaria, over 420, so I am not worried". Djankov declared.

After the discussion, Tanov told journalists that a full inventory of Lukoil Neftochim would be conducted in 2-3 days, which would shed light on the company's tax liabilities to the state budget.

In his words, the only option for the firm would be to appeal the decision of the customs administration, which, however, would not suspend its execution.

"The Lukoil Neftochim refinery has gone into an emergency operating mode. We are legally compliant and, naturally, we abide by the recommendations", Valentin Zlatev said in response, concluding that "fuels and the license have nothing to do with each other".

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