Paleichik's Luktarna to take over 73 of Lukoil Baltija's stations

Luktarna, a company controlled by the family of Ivan Paleichik who heads the Russian oil company Lukoil's fuel retailer Lukoil Baltija, will lease 73 of Lukoil Baltija's 76 filling stations

The Competition Council gave a green light to the company's lease of the filling stations for a period of five years, with the possibility of extension, however, the preliminary assessment barred Luktarna from renting the remaining three filling stations in Anyksciai, Rokiskis and Vievis due to what the council said considerable impact on competition on the local markets.

Luktarna, which operates 40 filling stations in Lithuania, initially asked for a permit to manage Lukoil Baltija's 76 filling stations under the lease contract. Earlier this year, Lukoil sold about 230 filling stations in Lithuania, Latvia and Poland to Austria's Amic Energy Management, while the management in Lithuania and Latvia has been handed over to Paleichik-related companies.