LNG

June 21 (LNGJ) – Future LNG importer Croatia has purchased control of nine Northern Adriatic and Marica area gas fields offshore the Balkan state from Italian energy company Eni. The Croatia state-backed company INI has agreed to buy Eni Croatia BV and become the 100 percent owner and sole operator of the fields. The transaction covers production of almost 380,000 cubic metres per day of gas and marks Eni’s exit from Croatian exploration and production. Eni and INA had previously worked in a 50-50 joint venture since 1996 under a production-sharing agreement with the Croatian government. Eni said the sale of gas to Italy from the Marica area would continue under a commercial agreement. Other stakeholders in INA are the Croatian government with 44.8 percent and private and institutional investors with just over 6 percent. The Hungarian MOL energy group owns 49.1 percent of INI.