Rompetrol could leave Ukrainian market due to customs problems
KYIV. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Rompetrol is thinking of dropping all plans in Ukraine and even completely abandoning the Ukrainian fuel market, Commercial Director of Rompetrol-Ukraine LLC (Odesa), Kyrylo Zakhovavko, said at the Ukrainian Petroleum Market conference in Kyiv on Tuesday.
"Rompetrol does not see the possibility for further development in Ukraine. The customs service ignores all our attempts to pass customs clearance. The complicated situation forces us to think about the future development of all plans to sell fuel in Ukraine. Taking into account plans to sign agreements in joint venture with Naftogaz Ukrainy, we expected that we'd have some advantages, and we didn't expect to see shady customs clearance schemes in Ukraine," he said.
Zakhovavko said that all projects planned for realization in Ukraine are being discussed with the leadership of Rompetrol and the Kazakh government (Rompetrol belongs to Kazakh company KazMunGaz).
"There is a great likelihood that all investment, planned at $1 billion, will be redirected to such markets as Turkey, Georgia and Bulgaria in the near future," he said, adding that the company does not rule out that it could completely abandon the Ukrainian market.
He said that problems with customs clearance of Rompetrol-Ukraine's fuel were initiated by officials of the central board of the State Customs Service of Ukraine.
"The head of the Kherson customs service said that the order not to pass petrol of Rompetrol was given from Kyiv - by the State Customs Service. They will be dismissed if they do not fulfill the order," Zakhovavko said.
As reported, in early November Rompetrol, Socar Energy Ukraine and KLO faced delays with the customs clearance of imported petrol.