Romanian mineral resources agency leases 9,000sq km of Black Sea to firm controlled by Dinu Patriciu

The National Agency for Mineral Resources (ANRM) leased last year 9,000 square kilometers of the Black Sea to Marine Resources Exploration International SRL, part of the Rompetrol Holding SA, for exploration of a non-conventional energy resource.

According to the information obtained by NewsIn, the company that won the bid, Marine Resources Exploration International SRL, belongs to Rompetrol Holding SA, headquartered in Switzerland and owned by businessman and oil mogul Dinu Patriciu.

Some 3,800 square kilometers of the respective surface were in the area subject to the international dispute with neighboring Ukraine.

Marine Resources Exploration International SRL has a share capital of 719,700 lei and was set up around one month before being granted the leasing license.

ANRM head Gelu Maracineanu confirmed for NewsIn that in 2008 an exploration license for the Black Sea was granted to a company from the Rompetrol Holding.

NewsIn