US extends licenses for Lukoil foreign fuel stations and Bulgarian assets
In short
The US Treasury extended licenses for transactions involving Lukoil's foreign fuel stations and Bulgarian assets until April 24, 2027, Russian outlets reported. Interfax said the previous authorizations were due to expire on October 29, 2026.
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The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control extended licenses allowing transactions involving Lukoil's foreign fuel stations and Bulgarian assets until April 24, 2027, according to Russian news outlets. Interfax said the authorizations had previously been due to expire on October 29, 2026. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
RIA Novosti reported that the fuel-station license covers Lukoil International GmbH and entities in which it directly or indirectly owns at least 50%, including Lukoil North America LLC and Lukoil Americas Corporation. The agency quoted authorization for transactions ordinarily necessary for buying goods and services and maintaining, operating or winding down the stations. It reported an expiry time of 00:01 US Eastern time on April 24, 2027. [ 1 ]
Kommersant named four Bulgarian subsidiaries covered by the extension: Lukoil Neftohim Burgas JSC, Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD, Lukoil Aviation Bulgaria EOOD and Lukoil Bulgaria Bunker EOOD. Interfax separately reported that the license permitting negotiations and conditional agreements for a sale of Lukoil International remained valid until October 22 and had been extended monthly. [ 2 , 3 ]
Interfax reported that OFAC sanctioned Lukoil and several subsidiaries on October 22, 2025, after which the company announced plans to sell its foreign assets. It said a proposed transaction with commodities trader Gunvor could not proceed because the US Treasury did not approve it. Lukoil then signed an agreement with Carlyle in late January 2026, according to Interfax. [ 2 ]
The accounts differ on the sale's current position. Interfax said the Carlyle agreement awaited OFAC approval, while Kommersant said Lukoil was seeking a new buyer. Kommersant's supplied text has an incomplete sentence about OFAC's handling of the deal. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The extension permits specified transactions involving Lukoil's overseas operations to continue under the licenses. A separate authorization for negotiations and conditional agreements to sell Lukoil International remained valid only until October 22, according to Interfax.
Key facts
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The status of the agreement to sell overseas assets to Carlyle. Interfax says the agreement awaits OFAC approval, while Kommersant says Lukoil is looking for a new buyer; its sentence about OFAC's action is incomplete.