Hungarian company shows interest in Russian Lukoil assets — Reuters
Photo: Lukoil's plants and gas stations in Europe have attracted the interest of Hungarian company (Getty Images)
Hungarian company MOL has informed US officials of its interest in acquiring international assets of the Russian oil giant Lukoil, which is under sanctions, Reuters reports.
Sources told the outlet that MOL aims to purchase Lukoil's oil refineries and gas stations in Europe, as well as stakes in production assets in Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.
Reuters reported that the US Treasury Department declined to comment on the matter.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed MOL's plans with US President Donald Trump in November, according to one source.
It is noted that Hungary received an annual US sanctions waiver to continue using Russian oil and gas.
Budapest is heavily dependent on Russian energy, and Orbán, who has been in power for 15 years, has long sought to maintain good relations with both Russia and the US.
MOL also aims to acquire the Serbian oil refining company NIS, which is Russian-owned and also under US sanctions.
US sanctions on Lukoil
The US imposed sanctions on two Russian oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft. In this context, several EU countries hosting Lukoil refineries have begun seeking solutions to avoid halting refinery operations.
For example, the Bulgarian Parliament allowed the government to appoint a new refinery manager. The plant could be nationalized and later sold to new owners.
It was also reported that Moldovan officials are discussing with Lukoil the possibility of purchasing company assets at Chișinău airport, including an aviation fuel storage facility.
On November 30, Ukraine imposed sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, as well as on Russians involved in systematically targeting Ukrainians with drones.
