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expressed confidence that it will stick to its 16. government to reduce the excise duties
plans and start natural gas production at its Orban discussed energy sovereignty on fuels, the ministry’s secretary Branko
offshore platform located in Romania’s Black in Central and Eastern Europe and the Krvavac wrote on Twitter on February 16.
Sea territory, Ziarul Financiar daily reported. strengthening of the North-South energy Fuel prices have reached record-high
The statement came at a moment when corridor with MOL chairman and CEO levels in Montenegro in the past weeks and
the Romanian authorities are expected Zsolt Hernadi and PKN Orlen chairman the government has already attempted to
to revise the Offshore Law in line with Daniel Obajtek, said Viktor Orban’s press seek parliament’s approval for legislation
investors’ expectations. spokesperson Bertalan Havasi. changes that would allow the reduction of
OMV Petrom’s management recently The talks also touched on a recently duties.
expressed disappointment with the delay and announced deal between the companies that “This was the decision of the Ministry
said that the investment decision in their will give MOL 417 petrol stations in Poland of Finance and Social Welfare in December
case was subsequently deferred to 2023. and PKN Orlen 185 petrol stations in when the parliament has turned it down.
Romania’s offshore gas tax that has Hungary and Slovakia. When the transaction Should they have adopted it, we would have
held up big projects in the Black Sea is set is closed, MOL will become the third-biggest been able to help citizens already,” Krvavac
to be revised by the first half of this year player on Poland’s retail vehicle fuel market, wrote.
after repeated delays, paving the way for while PKN Orlen will be the fourth-biggest He added that the previous DPS-led
investment, Energy Minister Virgil Popescu in Hungary with a 7% share of the retail government increased the excise duties.
said in a Reuters interview on February 14. market.
“We strongly believe that through the PKN Orlen already controls 5% of the
constructive cooperation of all parties Hungarian wholesale market. Bulgaria freezes sale of
involved in the construction of the MGD Orban said the Hungarian government
project, gas production will begin in the hails MOL’s acquisition in Poland and gas from Chiren storage to
second quarter of 2022,” said Mark Beacom, welcomes Polish investors in Hungary. The
CEO of BSOG quoted by Ziarul Financiar. deal will give impetus to the traditionally prepare for escalation of
BSOG is the company behind the first strong ties between Hungary and Poland,
project for the exploration and exploitation as well as foster co-operation among the Russia-Ukraine conflict
of hydrocarbons in the Black Sea launched in Visegrad Group (Hungary, Poland, Czechia
Romania after 1989. and Slovakia) and the development of the Bulgaria decided to temporarily stop the
Its MGD project consists of five Central and Eastern European economy, sale of natural gas from its Chiren storage as
production wells (one submarine well at the he added. The sides agreed that Hungarian part of the measures it is taking to prepare in
Doina field and four production wells at the and Polish consumers will benefit from the case of an escalation of the Russia-Ukraine
Ana field) and one submarine production transaction. conflict, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov told
complex on the Doina field. A submarine PKN Orlen announced that it is planning reporters as quoted by Mediapool news
pipeline of over 120 km ensures the transport further expansion in the region and outlet.
of gas from the Ana platform to the shore, development of the retail segment, The country imports almost all its natural
to the new gas treatment plant in Corbu Under its 2030 strategy, PKN Orlen wants gas from Russia and could have issues with
commune, Constanţa county. to boost the share of foreign stations in the supplies in case of war or sanctions. To
In total, BSOG has invested $600mn in entire network from 37 to 45% and operate prevent an energy crisis, the government
the Black Sea Midia perimeter, according to 3,500 stations in the CEE region by 2030, is working on a plan to secure additional
the latest information available. according to Polish press reports. sources.
PKN Orlen sees Ebitda rising 1.5 times to Petkov said that the authorities are
PLN5bn (€1.1bn) by 2030.. looking for options to store additional
Hungarian PM discusses natural gas, including liquified natural gas
from Greece.
energy issues and V4 co- Montenegro’s finance EU to temporary lower its electricity exports
Bulgaria is also seeking approval from the
operation in talks with MOL, ministry proposes legislation in case Russia freezes all gas supplies.

PKN Orlen leaders changes to lower excise

Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with the duties on fuels
heads of Hungarian oil and gas company
MOL and MOL’s Polish peer PKN Orlen at Montenegro’s finance ministry will propose
his office in the Castle District on February legislation changes that would allow the

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