Moldovan energy minister things to situation of April 2005 in terms of situation of oil infrastructure at Chisinau Airport

Moldova intends to return the oil asset at Eugen Doga Chisinau International Airport under state control. This will not be made through "nationalization" or "confiscation," but by returning to the situation in April 2005. Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu has made statements to this effect.

The minister said that, in April 2005, the kerosene asset at the airport had transferred to the company Lukoil through an investment contract, under which  the company committed to make certain investments. However, recent analyses conducted in the context of discussions about buying the kerosene asset at the airport have revealed certain discrepancies.

"Under this 2005 investment contract, Lukoil committed to make certain investments. When we started negotiating to purchase the respective asset, certain discrepancies were discovered. The working group created at the prime minister’s decision informed the competent authorities about these discrepancies, and they are expected to report back soon," stated Dorin Junghietu.

Accordingly, in this case, the legal authorities have been notified, who are expected to express their opinions.

"A solid commercial offer has no longer been made to Lukoil. After discovering these details, the competent authorities were informed, and we expect the carrying out of the investigation," emphasized Dorin Junghietu.

At the same time, according to the minister, if the state takes over the kerosene asset at the airport, more management options will be analyzed based on examples from European countries.

"There are different models: a few airports in the European Union, like the one in Warsaw, offer a very optimal model. There is a competitive market. The asset belongs to the airport, but the operation by several companies is allowed. In Poland, at one of the airports, there are even two companies. In Latvia or Lithuania, there are two, so there is a competitive process," stated the Head of Energy.

The Council for Examining Investments in Areas of Importance for State Security on December 15 ruled to refuse approval for the continued investment activities of Lukoil-Moldova Limited Liability Company (LLC) on the territory of Moldova and to return, within 20 days, to the situation existing before 2005, when the Airport oil complex infrastructure was taken over by the company.

Consequently, all assets related to this complex, according to the contract signed in 2005, are to be transferred to the ownership of Moldova.

The decision was taken as a result of Lukoil-Moldova LLC failing to meet more mandatory requirements established by the Council since May 2024, within the process of verifying investments in areas of strategic importance.