Lukoil has received an offer from Gunvor for its international assets, including the Petrotel refinery in Romania, in the context of the sanctions imposed by the USA.

Lukoil, the Russian oil giant, has announced that it has received a purchase offer from Gunvor for its international assets, including Lukoil International GmbH. This decision comes as a result of the sanctions imposed by the United States, and questions are focused on the future of the Petrotel refinery in Ploiești and the Lukoil gas station network in Romania. The publication Kommersant reported that the value of Lukoil International's assets amounts to 19.14 billion euros, while fixed assets are valued at 16.33 billion euros. Litasco, Lukoil's trading division, owns refineries and fuel stations in Europe, including in Romania.

Experts in Russia suggest that Lukoil anticipated the sanctions and has already negotiated with Gunvor, which offered the best conditions for the purchase. Although the sale of foreign assets may be considered a loss, it also offers reinvestment opportunities. In Romania, authorities have not yet received official notifications about the transaction, and the Ministry of Energy has emphasized the need to analyze the ownership structure of potential buyers to comply with European sanctions. Gunvor, founded by Gennady Timchenko and Torbjörn Törnqvist, is one of the largest commodity trading companies in the world, with revenues of 136 billion dollars in 2024.