Chair of the National Coalition Party, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, speaks at the party council’s autumn meeting in Helsinki on 25 October 2025. Photo: Jussi Nukari / Str / Lehtikuva
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Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said Finland’s fuel distribution network remains stable despite difficulties facing Teboil, the country’s third-largest distributor, following US sanctions on its Russian parent company, Lukoil.
Speaking at the National Coalition Party council meeting in Helsinki, Orpo said there is no major disruption to fuel deliveries and that the government does not plan to intervene in the market.
“The first reports indicate that our fuel network is functioning well. There is no large-scale crisis at this stage,” he said. “Our task is to ensure fuel distribution across Finland. If bottlenecks appear, we will look for solutions.”
The United States imposed sanctions on Lukoil on Thursday as part of new measures targeting Russian energy firms. Following the decision, Finnish refiner Neste suspended its fuel sales to Teboil. The Bank of Finland warned on Friday that Finnish companies cooperating with Lukoil could face secondary sanctions.
Orpo said the state would not interfere with Neste’s business decisions and emphasised confidence in market competition. “We have a well-functioning, competitive distribution system. I believe in the market economy. There is no reason to start building a support package at this stage,” he said.
The Finnish Transport and Logistics Association (SKAL) said local supply problems could still emerge because Teboil operates stations in remote regions where other companies lack coverage. The group urged authorities to monitor availability but warned against actions that could distort competition.
For independent service station operators, the sanctions have caused uncertainty over payment systems and deliveries. Orpo acknowledged that challenges may arise for entrepreneurs running combined fuel and café businesses. “The Ministry of Economic Affairs and, if necessary, the Ministry of Employment will use their normal tools to assess what kind of help might be possible,” he said.
Orpo called the sanctions necessary to weaken Russia’s capacity to continue its war against Ukraine. “It was the right decision by the United States to target Rosneft and Lukoil,” he said. “These measures are essential.”
Orpo also talked about Finland’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and reducing national debt. He said the question of using Russia’s frozen assets remains legally complex but progress is being made within the European Union. “I believe a solution is near, as major EU countries like Germany support the use of these funds,” he said.
The prime minister said Finland’s energy security remains strong, with large-scale wind power projects underway alongside new data centre investments. He pointed to cooperation with the United States on icebreaker construction as an example of successful Finnish expertise creating jobs and economic growth.
“Finland is on the right track, but that is not enough,” he told party members. “We have carried responsibility in difficult times, and we will continue to do so.”
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
