Mazeikiu Nafta out of luck on crude oil

VILNIUS (BNS) - Russia's oil giant Lukoil has said it cannot sell crude oil to the Lithuanian oil refinery in Mazeikiai this month.

A representative of the Russian concern's subsidiary Northern Europe Lukoil Investholding said that Lukoil proposed to negotiate with Mazeikiu Nafta for deliveries for December and the first quarter of 2000.

Lukoil representative Ivan Paleichik said that Lukoil would look into the possibility of shipping oil to Mazeikiai in December.

Mazeikiu Nafta began negotiations over crude supplies with Lukoil earlier this week. Paleichik and Mazeikiu Nafta's director-general, Steve Hunkus, will resume talks soon. Mazeikiu Nafta's officials have refused to comment on their results.

Lithuania's only oil refinery shut down on Nov. 22 because of a lack of crude, its third forced closure this year and the first stoppage since American company Williams International's acquisition of a 33 percent stake and operational control of the oil complex including the Butinge export and import terminal and a pipelines system.