In January, the Russian side reached an agreement to sell the ISAB refinery in Italy to GOI Energy, which entered into a partnership with the trader Trafigura. The agreement was supposed to be concluded at the end of March, but the Italian authorities took more time to analyze it.
US authorities have asked Italian officials to ensure that GOI Energy is not associated with Russian companies. The FT reports that GOI Energy is a newly created subsidiary of Cypriot private equity group Argus.
At the same time, it is noted that in Italy they fear that a little-known company from Cyprus will acquire a strategic facility.
Meanwhile, co-head of rough trading at Trafigura, Ben Lacock, confirmed to the FT that company representatives had met with Italian officials this week, that the meeting was ‘positive’ and that the process is moving forward. .
Earlier, it was reported that Iraqi state-owned oil company Thi-Qar Oil Company (TOC) has approved Lukoil’s proposal to develop Eridu oilfield in Iraq. Eridu should be developed with Inpex South Iraq.
