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Rosneft has no plans to curtail its operations in Ukraine

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported of the new authorities’ plans to nationalize the Lisichansk refinery, which belongs to Rosneft

Lisichansk refinery (archive) ITAR-TASS/Sergei Petrov

Lisichansk refinery (archive)

© ITAR-TASS/Sergei Petrov

MOSCOW, March 19. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian state oil company Rosneft says it has not curtailed its operations in Ukraine and has no plans to make any changes.

“To date, all petrol stations of Rosneft have been operating in Ukraine in a normal mode. There are no disruptions in fuel deliveries and no deficit. In compliance with its contractual obligations Rosneft delivers petroleum products to Ukraine in full extent,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

The Lisichansk refinery in Ukraine undergoes renovation under schedule. As soon as it is completed, Rosneft will conduct an additional assessment of the refinery’s economic efficiency and its launch date.

“Now Rosneft’s priority is to ensure security of its employees and assets,” the statement read.

“Our task is to protect our assets on the territory of Ukraine,” Rosneft chief executive officer Igor Sechin told the sixth Russian-Japanese investment forum in Tokyo on Wednesday. “This concerns the Lisichansk refinery. We take this project very carefully. Everything is normal now. We are upgrading the plant.”

He expressed hope that “the crisis will not last long to hamper the project’s implementation.”

Earlier, Ukrainian media reported of the new authorities’ plans to nationalize the Lisichansk refinery.

Rosneft planned to launch the Lisichansk refinery in Ukraine this summer. The Russian oil company received the refinery after it bought out shares in TNK-BP. The refinery’s throughput capacity is around 8 million tonnes of crude a year. It suspended its operation in March 2012.

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