Russia's Lukoil asks US to delay new sanctions — Reuters
Photo: Lukoil asks the US to delay new sanctions (Getty Images)
Russian oil company Lukoil has asked the US Treasury Department to extend the deadline for completing transactions after sanctions were imposed, Reuters reports.
Three sources at the agency note that after imposing restrictions on Rosneft and Lukoil, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) set a deadline of November 21 for completing all transactions, including the sale of foreign assets.
According to Reuters sources, Lukoil is requesting a postponement because it needs more time to fulfill its existing obligations and consider proposals for the sale of foreign assets.
US sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft
The United States imposed sanctions on two Russian oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft, several weeks ago.
Against this backdrop, several European countries where Lukoil has refineries have begun to seek solutions to prevent the plants from shutting down.
In particular, the Bulgarian parliament allowed the government to appoint a new head of the refinery. The plant may be nationalized and then sold to new owners. At the same time, Romania wants to obtain a postponement of sanctions from the US.
In addition, Lukoil reported a force majeure at the giant West Qurna-2 oil field in Iraq and suspended its operations.
Moldovan officials are discussing with Lukoil the possibility of purchasing the company's facilities at Chisinau Airport. In particular, Lukoil was offered to sell the airport infrastructure, including the aviation fuel depot.
