A 30-33 percent market share would boost LukOil Romania to first place on the domestic fuel retail market. The current market leader, Petrom, has a 28 percent share of the market, according to Petrom's estimates.
"We want to obtain 30-33 percent of the Romanian market share, as much as European Union legislation allows," said Tampiza. He refused to offer details about the company's strategy to obtain this share of the market.
At the end of last week, Tampiza, quoted by Mediafax, said that LukOil Romania is interested in acquiring a package of 50-60 gas stations. Asked where this acquisition will take place, LukOil Romania's General Manager answered that, to his knowledge, there were presently no opportunities on the market. "We do intend to purchase 50-60 gas stations, but who is selling?!" Tampiza asked rhetorically.
This announcement by LukOil’s official constitutes a shift in the Russian company's attitude to the Romanian market. In mid-July, the company's Deputy General Manager, Andrei Chirilescu, told Business Standard that the company's plans do not include increasing its 25 percent market share. "We have no intention to exceed the 25 percent share of the market. We might incur losses if we try to increase this share," the company official added. Chirlescu went on to say that the company's target by the end of 2008 is to own a maximum of 350 gas stations in Romania.
