Lukoil refinery crisis shows Europe cost of severing ties with Russia
Romanian authorities will likely seek a legal mechanism to restart the Petrotel refinery without directly violating the current sanctions regime, as the plant's prolonged shutdown shifts a foreign policy issue into a domestic political crisis, Ilya Grashchenkov, a political scientist and president of the Center for Regional Policy Development, told TASS.
Earlier, Bogdan Hossu, head of the Cartel Alfa national trade union confederation, said that around 460 companies could go bankrupt if authorities fail to restart the Lukoil-owned Petrotel refinery. The plant was shut down for maintenance in October 2025, subsequently hit with US sanctions, and ceased operations.
"The longer the Petrotel refinery remains idle, the more the sanctions issue will transform from a foreign policy matter into a domestic political challenge for the country's authorities," Grashchenkov said. "That is precisely why officials will likely look for a legal framework to restart the plant without directly breaching the current sanctions regime."
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Earlier, Bogdan Hossu, head of the Cartel Alfa national trade union confederation, said that around 460 companies could go bankrupt if authorities fail to restart the Lukoil-owned Petrotel refinery. The plant was shut down for maintenance in October 2025, subsequently hit with US sanctions, and ceased operations.
"The longer the Petrotel refinery remains idle, the more the sanctions issue will transform from a foreign policy matter into a domestic political challenge for the country's authorities," Grashchenkov said. "That is precisely why officials will likely look for a legal framework to restart the plant without directly breaching the current sanctions regime."
Source