According to a draft Government Decision published Wednesday, the Ministry of Energy has proposed placing the Romanian entities owned by Lukoil Group under an extended supervision mechanism. Ion-Bogdan Bugheanu is proposed as supervisor.
The measure targets Lukoil Romania SRL (100% owned by Litasco SA Switzerland), Petrotel-Lukoil SA (99.76% owned by Litasco), Lukoil Lubricants East Europe SRL (100% owned by Lukoil International GmbH), and Lukoil Overseas Atash B.V. Amsterdam - Bucharest Branch.
According to the explanatory memorandum, extended supervision creates a control and prevention framework meant to protect Romania's interests in refining, fuel distribution and offshore gas assets, with direct implications for national energy security. The mechanism strengthens the Government's ability to manage systemic risks linked to crude extraction, related services, refining, and fuel trade, especially in the context of international sanctions, ensuring that assets or financial flows cannot be used to support sanctioned entities.
The Ministry argues that the measure will prevent operational blockages and ensure continuity of strategic economic activities without affecting ownership rights or normal commercial operations. A designated supervisor will continuously monitor the companies, exercising rights and obligations under Government Emergency Ordinance 202/2008. Company operations will require the supervisor's approval, including prior verification of external transactions, analysis of financial and commercial flows, oversight of managerial decision-making and rapid identification of risks related to sanctions.
Once adopted, the measure will allow the Ministry to intervene quickly in case of risks affecting crude supply, refinery operations or deliveries to the distribution chain, thereby protecting national processing capacity and avoiding disruptions that could destabilize the fuel market. The memorandum notes that extended supervision also prevents interruptions caused by restrictions imposed by banks, suppliers or international partners.
The draft decision also enables inter-institutional cooperation protocols with the Trade Registry and other authorities to provide the supervisor with necessary information. The Ministry explains that the measure will help eliminate risks before they generate major economic effects, maintain public confidence in fuel supply stability, preserve supply contracts and ensure operational predictability.
Petrotel-Lukoil's continued operation is considered essential for market stability. The refinery accounts for roughly 25% of Oil Terminal's activity and 40% of Conpet's transported volumes. Lukoil Romania operates 321 filling stations and several regional depots, supporting thousands of jobs. The Ministry warns that stopping the refinery would disrupt national fuel distribution, affect logistics flows, create regional shortages of diesel and gasoline, and increase price volatility. Closing Petrotel-Lukoil and Lukoil Romania would remove about 23% of Romania's fuel supply, requiring imports that could raise pump prices.
The Ministry argues that a strategic vulnerability is the partnership between Lukoil Overseas Atash B.V. and Romgaz in the Trident offshore gas perimeter, where Lukoil is operator and majority shareholder. This situation increases energy-dependence risks and exposes the Romanian state to legal, operational and geopolitical vulnerabilities.
The Ministry notes that the measure is proposed in the context of U.S. OFAC actions related to Russian sanctions and ahead of key deadlines in 2026 concerning Lukoil's licenses for international transactions. Given the strategic nature of the energy sector and critical infrastructure, the situation warrants consultation with the Supreme Council of National Defense.
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