In October 2003, OMV and the Russian natural gas giant Gazprom conducted secret negotiations for acquiring Romanian national oil operator Petrom as a consortium. Romanian daily Evenimentul Zilei exclusively unveils the content of the negotiations, as found in the letters sent by OMV boss Wolfgang Ruttenstorfer and one of the most influential Russian businessmen, Alexander Medvedev, Gazexport general manager and Gazprom board member. Gazexport acts as Gazprom's exports division.
In October 2003, when the privatization of Petrom was on the roll, Russian Gazprom and OMV (the company that ultimately bought Petrom), tried to form Petrom Holding, a consortium aimed at acquiring Petrom. In case the plan worked out fine, the Russians would have taken the company apart, dividing it so they take over all the natural gas operations through Gazprom and Marco Group.
The Romanian lawyers in the Petrom privatization were Cătălin Predoiu, now Justice Minister in office, and Ioana Racoţi, his associate.
OMV Austria communication manager Bettina Gneisz confirmed that OMV and Gazexport considered participating together in the bid, but OMV rapidly decided to bid on its own. Gneisz didn't offer any explanation on the reasons that determined this decision.
Key representatives of the Romanian state in the Petrom privatization were the public servant Dorinel Mucea, assisted by Credit Suisse First Boston, which was also represented by Bulgarian businessman Stamen Stantchev. Both of them are currently under investigation for several serious crimes, including espionage, treason and corruption.
The Petrom privatization contract is still subject for controversies, including several articles that are clearly against the interest of the Romanian state.
The OMV letter to Medvedev, in brief:
- OMV understands that Gazprom
