US Extends License for Sale of Lukoil Assets Abroad, Including Bulgaria
Washington has prolonged the validity of a US license allowing negotiations for the sale of foreign assets owned by the Russian oil major Lukoil, extending it until February 28
Exxon Mobil and Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. are among several companies showing interest in acquiring international assets of the sanctioned Russian oil company Lukoil, Bloomberg reported. Reuters confirmed that Exxon is actively exploring options as well.
Earlier, US energy giant Chevron and the investment firm Carlyle Group had already expressed interest in Lukoil’s overseas operations. While some potential buyers are reportedly considering only specific assets, Lukoil is said to prefer selling its international portfolio as a single package before sanctions take effect.
According to Bloomberg, Exxon and Chevron are looking at Lukoil’s stake in the Iraqi oil field West Qurna 2, which is operated by Lukoil and considered the company’s most valuable foreign asset. Abu Dhabi National Oil’s investment arm, XRG, is reportedly evaluating various assets, including Lukoil’s natural gas operations in Uzbekistan. Reuters sources added that Exxon is also considering assets in Kazakhstan, where both Exxon and Lukoil hold stakes in the Karachaganak and Tengiz fields.
The pool of prospective buyers for Lukoil’s global holdings has expanded following the U.S. Treasury Department’s recent authorization allowing companies to enter negotiations for the Russian firm’s international assets, with the approval valid until December 13. Previously, Lukoil had agreed to sell its foreign operations to commodities trader Gunvor Group, but the Trump administration blocked that deal.
Lukoil accounts for roughly 2 percent of global oil production through its domestic and international operations. Its international portfolio, valued at around 22 billion dollars based on 2024 filings, includes three European refineries, stakes in oil fields across Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Mexico, Ghana, Egypt, and Nigeria, as well as hundreds of gas stations worldwide, including in the United States. These foreign assets alone produce about 0.5 percent of the world’s oil output, according to the company’s latest filings.
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