Businessman Dinu Patriciu explained at TV news station Antena 3 talk show, "Stirea zilei" on Monday that he opted to sell 75% of Rompetrol to Kazakhstan company KazMunayGaz as he considered the interests of both parties would fit very well. Moreover, he says that his move thus creates an alternative for energy projects from the Caspian region to Europe.

Patriciu says he cannot divulge the exact value of the transaction and he does not plan to give up his remaining 25% shares in Rompetrol. He also insisted on keeping the company’s management even if he gave up the financial control.

Moreover, on Realitatea TV at the “100%” talkshow, Patriciu says that the total transaction is “obviously different than the value of the shares”.

Dinu Patriciu, at Realitatea TV:

• There is no precondition for the business - it just needs to be approved by the competition department of the European Commission

• Patriciu says he did not negotiate with Lukoil and when asked about Gazprom he said he cannot say due to confidentiality clauses

• Patriciu motivated his choice of a Kazakhstan company by arguing that he planned in bridging energetically the Caspian to Europe. Moreover, the move assures Romania’s independence of Russia. Thus, Romania becomes a stand from the East towards the West.

• In the next two years Rompetrom value will triple

• Asked why he does not collaborate with the Romanian state but with a foreign one, Patriciu said that in Kazakhstan the investments’ fond is extremely independent from the state

• Ion Sturza, board member in Rompetrol was involved in the process as he represented in the last years Rompetrol in the Soviet

• Rompetrol would have valued a lot more if it were not the hassle Patriciu was subject to in the last two years

• The biggest part of the money will be invested in Romania

Dinu Patriciu, at Antena 3:

• I just sold a participation of Rompetrol but I still have management control

• Kazakhstan people have resources and Rompetrol becomes a bridge between the East and the West

• He explains the move through strategic reasoning: Rompetrol needed resources to become on of the fist 10 European companies

• Kazakhstan was chosen due to its independency from Russia.

• Rompetrol brand will not change

• I informed all the authorities that had to be informed of this business

• Moreover, in the same time I announced the press

• Rompetrol is a company created by a Romanian, lead by a Romanian and attended by Romanian workers - all of whom produce for the same country

• State businesses lead to financial difficulties

• I invest in the media also. The press is one of the least consolidated in Romania, which explains the disequilibrium

• I am not interested in politics. I will always do what is best to keep the liberal spirit in Romanian politics

• I never considered giving up the last 25% of Rompetrol