The Italian minister regrets that the country did not ask the EU to postpone the embargo on oil from Russia

The Italian authorities should have asked the European Union (EU) for a delay in imposing an embargo on Russian oil, said Economic Development Minister Adolfo Urso. In Sicily, there is a LUKOIL plant (ISAB Lukoil), which, in the event of an embargo, may face bankruptcy, the newspaper reports. Corriere della Sera.

In an interview with the publication, Mr. Urso said that Italy should have followed the example of other European countries, such as Germany and Poland, which asked for a delay. “A mistake was made at an earlier stage when Italy did not demand the necessary postponement of the embargo at the European level to protect national interests, as did the more perspicacious European countries, such as Germany and Poland, as well as Bulgaria,” the minister explained.

The LUKOIL refinery in the Italian commune of Priolo in the southeast of Sicily is the third enterprise in Europe in terms of oil refining. In 2008, LUKOIL bought out 49% of the enterprise. The plant produces about 22% of the fuel consumed in Italy. The company employs more than 1,000 people from poor areas, after the shutdown of the plant, they went out to protest. In November LUKOIL refused sell the American Crossbridge plant. Experts indicated on possible difficulties in the event that Italy wants to get a reprieve of the embargo for ISAB.

As part of the eighth package of sanctions, the EU countries intend to introduce price restrictions on Russian oil from December 5, and on oil products from February 5. Poland and the Baltic States require set a price ceiling of $30. Negotiate the exact price so far failed.

Details – in the material “Kommersant” “He’s not low, not high”.

Laura Keffer