TASS Russian News Agency cited Lukoil press secretary Vitaly Matushkin as saying that the company’s bank accounts and commercial reserves arrest was suspended following the hearings over the company’s appeal on 06 October and began the procedure to start the refinery.
Romanian authorities have seized raw materials, crude oil and products of the Lukoil’s Petrotel refinery following investigation by prosecutors on alleged tax evasion and money laundering.
Reuters cited the Lukoil’s refinery as saying in a statement: "Following the seizure of (our) raw materials, crude and products by penal investigation authorities, the Petrotel-Lukoil refinery has halted production and commercial activity.
"The timing of the (production) restart will be announced after a court rules on our appeal."
Romanian authorities raided the refinery offices near the city of Ploiesti to probe into alleged tax evasion and money laundering of an estimated $290m.
The refinery processes 2.4 million tons of crude annually.
Lukoil informed reporters in a statement issued from the Russian embassy in Bucharestt: "It is of particular concern that as part of the ongoing investigation the refinery was ordered to stop production, jeopardizing the functioning of the entire production chain of Lukoil in Romania."
Lukoil had purchased the Petrotel refinery in 1998.
Image:Petrotel-Lukoil refinery. Photo: courtesy of LUKOIL oil company.
