Lukoil Overseas Atash BV has sued the Romanian state, invoking force majeure, after withdrawing from the offshore Trident project in the Black Sea.

The subsidiary of the Russian company Lukoil has initiated legal action against the Romanian state, requesting the recognition of the existence of a case of major force, after withdrawing from the offshore natural gas project 'Trident' in the Black Sea.

The action was registered at the Bucharest Tribunal, with Romgaz and the National Agency for Mineral Resources as defendants. Lukoil's withdrawal was announced after extensive oversight was instituted over its entities in Romania. The president of the Smart Energy Association, Dumitru Chisăliță, emphasized that this withdrawal reflects Romania's energy vulnerabilities and the impact of Western sanctions on Lukoil's operations.

He warned that the Romanian state must act quickly to clarify the situation of the Trident project and turn this withdrawal into a strategic opportunity for the energy security of the region.