Lukoil flags: flutter in the wind
Lukoil halts Cuba plan on Venezuela delays
Russian outfit Lukoil has put plans to buy a refinery in Cuba on hold because it is facing delays with oil production projects in Venezuela, its president said in an interview today.
"Unfortunately, the signing of the Venezuelan projects has been delayed. The laws, which are being approved today by the country, are a burden to its economy," Vagit Alekperov told Russian business daily Kommersant.
"So we cannot afford to take the risk of viewing these projects as a source of supply of the Cuban refinery. And to buy a refinery without having crude supply logistics does not make sense," he said.
Alekperov said one of the reasons why Lukoil was keen to stay in Venezuela and launch production projects as soon as possible was the need to supply its US network.
Lukoil is 20% owned by US giant ConocoPhillips and has a large network of filling stations in the US.
He also said Lukoil would save around $1 billion per year due to the introduction of new tax breaks by the Russian government from next year, reported Reuters.