“It would be a pity to have to shut down the refinery. We’ve invested a lot of money here,” Vladimir Nekrasov, Lukoil First Vice-President, Refining, Marketing and Distribution, told reporters Wednesday.
He added he had meetings Tuesday with the prosecutor investigating the Petrotel case, deputy prime minister Liviu Dragnea and minister-delegate for Energy Razvan Nicolescu.
“We understand very well that they (the ministers – e.n.) cannot intervene in an investigation. They are also sorry they would have to revise the country’s budget down in case the refinery is closed,” said Nekrasov.
He added the accusations are unfounded and said investigators have not presented him with any documents showing the state had been cheated of taxes.
“I didn’t see anything concrete, just general statements,” the Lukoil official said, adding a deal has been reached with the prosecution office. He did not give further details.
“We have reached certain compromises that we will report to the Lukoil management tomorrow (Thursday – e.n.). If the management agrees, we will restart the refinery. If not, we won’t. We consider the $700 million we have paid so far this year in taxes are assurance enough,” Nekrasov said, adding the refinery’s strategic crude oil stocks are impounded by Romanian authorities.
Investigators raided the Russian-held Lukoil’s offices in Ploiesti last week on suspicions of defrauding the state of EUR230 million through tax evasion and money laundering. The refinery’s general manager, Andrey Bogdanov, has been placed under judicial control and is under criminal investigation on suspicions of tax evasion and money laundering.