Reuters recently reported that the state-owned energy company of Azerbaijan, SOCAR, was in talks to acquire the Italian refinery Italiana Petroli, while the Italian government demanded guarantees of oil supplies in return. According to the agency, negotiations were being held between SOCAR and the Brachetti Peretti family, the founders of Italiana Petroli. The company’s assets, which include a refinery and an extensive gas station network, were valued at nearly $3 billion. Italiana Petroli operates two refineries with a combined capacity of about 200,000 barrels per day and controls more than 4,500 gas stations, making it one of the largest networks in Italy. Reuters sources emphasized that Italian authorities had requested assurances from both SOCAR and the Azerbaijani government regarding the security of oil supplies, as well as guarantees on the preservation of jobs. The report also noted that, in parallel, a shipment of contaminated crude from Azerbaijan remained unloaded in the Mediterranean.