Government investigates Lukoil investments at Chișinău Airport

There are suspicions of violations of the investment contract provisions by Lukoil Company, and authorities are set to clarify responsibilities through legal procedures, says Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu. The Prime Minister provided clarifications on the situation of Lukoil's investments in the petroleum infrastructure at Chișinău International Airport, noting that since the imposition of international sanctions on the Lukoil group, additional problems have arisen in complying with contracts and legal conditions.


"Lukoil took over the airport infrastructure in 2005 and assumed certain investment responsibilities. From the analysis of the Ministry of Energy, the company has not fully complied with the investment program assumed. What exactly was violated will likely be contested by Lukoil, and the legislation does not provide for compensation for this," Munteanu told Moldova1 TV channel.


According to the Prime Minister, the court is set to determine whether the non-compliance with investment commitments has criminal or administrative implications.


"It is the responsibility of the Prosecutor's Office and the courts to investigate what happened. We will analyze the timeline and available evidence to make the right decisions," Munteanu added.


Lukoil operates both the airport infrastructure and the network of gas stations and wholesale fuel market, being a major player in the domestic market. The Prime Minister noted that, since the imposition of international sanctions on the Lukoil group, additional problems have arisen in complying with contracts and legal conditions.


"Lucoil Moldova has informed us that it cannot meet all the conditions imposed by sanctions. In this situation, the government must ensure compliance with international laws and rules, as the Republic of Moldova is a player in the global market and must respect all commitments," the official explained.


Alexandru Munteanu mentioned that the privatization price of Lukoil in 2005 was very low, about 10 million lei, a small sum for the strategic infrastructure of Chișinău Airport.


"This infrastructure was and remains a monopoly in the market. We are now evaluating what was respected and what was not, and how we can correct the situation in the interest of the state and citizens," the Prime Minister emphasized.


The Prime Minister assured that the Government will monitor the investigation process and the application of the law, and Lukoil will have the right to contest any decision in court, according to the legislation. At the same time, authorities will take all necessary measures to protect the state's interests and ensure the proper functioning of the strategic infrastructure at Chișinău International Airport.