OMV Petrom rejects allegations of 7 bln lei prejudice brought to Romanian state

OMV Petrom vehemently rejects the allegations of non-payment of State duties, bandied in Thursday's meeting of the parliamentary committee inquiring into the National Energy Regulatory Authority (ANRE) activity, according to a press release of the company sent to AGERPRES Thursday evening. 

Leader of the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) Dumitru Costin stated during Thursday's hearings that he presented the Committee a document showing that OMV Petrom has supposedly brought a 7 billion lei prejudice to the state. 

In response, the OMV Petrom officials said that over the years the company was the object of several fiscal checks which were carried through. "The last fiscal check, which aimed at oil and gas royalties 2011 through 2015, was completed without any findings in this year's second quarter. OMV Petrom is the greatest contributor to Romania's state budget. It has always duly and fairly paid all its duties to the state budget, a fact validated by the tax certificates issued by the competent authorities." 

The company's representatives then introduce some figures regarding the impact on state budget revenues and on the economy in general, starting with 2005 onwards. It is about 24.5 billion euro paid to the state as taxes, duties, social contributions and dividends owed to the Romanian state as shareholder, as well as investments worth 13.5 billion euro. 

"Most investments targeted the production of crude oil, gas, fuels and electricity, thus contributing to maintaining Romania's low degree of dependency on energy imports," the release further shows. 

According to the quoted source, OMV Petrom has a significant contribution to ensuring Romania's energy security, covering 40 pct of the national demand for crude oil, gas and oil products. 

"We cannot but notice the fact that more and more, the activity of the parliamentary committee inquiring into the ANRE activity allows for the denigration and the allegations against OMV Petrom, driving them away from the objectives set in Parliament. The company is listed on the Bucharest stock exchange and the one in London, with local and foreign investors and such unfounded accusations could bring prejudices both to the company and its shareholders, the Romanian state included," the company's officials added. 

OMV, one of Austria's largest listed industrial companies, controls 51.01 percent of OMV Petrom; the Romanian State, through the Ministry of Energy owns a stake of 20.64 pct, Fondul Proprietatea holds 9.9985 pct and the rest of 18.35 pct is free-float on the Bucharest Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. 

On Thursday, in the parliamentary committee inquiring into ANRE activity, Dumitru Costin, leader of the National Trade Union Bloc (BNS) affirmed that OMV Petrom brought the Romanian state a prejudice of 7 billion lei, according to several checks carried out by the Court of Accounts, but the money hasn't been recovered since 2015. 

He told journalists that he notified the premier's Control Body on the issue and presented the inquiry committee a document in that regard. 

Subsequently, Iulian Iancu, Chair of the inquiry committee told journalists, at the end of the hearings, that the issue is related to prejudices due to the non-payment of the Added Value Tax (VTA), of income, buildings, land plots taxes, the non-payment of royalties as well as the overcharging of soil decontamination bills, presented to the Ministry of Environment. According to Iulian Iancu, the inquiry committee will request all documents from the control institutions.