Space Travel News
OIL AND GAS
Oil executives held in Albania over tax evasion case
Oil executives held in Albania over tax evasion case
by AFP Staff Writers
Tirana, Albania (AFP) Aug 6, 2025

The Chinese chief executive of Albania's largest oil producer was refused bail on Wednesday, amid a tax evasion investigation involving several Bankers Petroleum executives, authorities said.

Hongping Xiao will remain in custody, accused of tax evasion and abuse of power, after he was arrested last month, along with nine other current and former company officials, said an appeals court statement.

Former CEO Leonidha Cobo, an Albanian national, would also remain in custody, it said.

Bankers Petroleum, present in Albania since 2004, operates the Patos-Marinza oil field, the country's largest.

Originally a Canadian company, the firm was acquired in 2016 by the Chinese-based Geo-Jade Petroleum for more than $400 million.

According to local media, the investigation accuses senior executives at the firm of fraud going back 20 years.

"We are following with sincere attention the criminal investigations, initiated by the Albanian authorities on July 2, 2025, concerning several valued colleagues and past employees," Bankers said in an August 1 statement.

"Throughout this process, we continue to engage openly with all competent institutions, guided by a spirit of transparency, mutual respect, and adherence to the law."

Of the eight other company executives arrested in July, four were placed under house arrest, and the others are required to report regularly to authorities.

Four other company executives, including three Chinese nationals and one Canadian, are wanted by Albanian authorities.

Bankers Petroleum appointed former Croatian diplomat and oil executive Andrija Kojakovic as chairman of the board of directors in June. He will have to oversee relations with the Albanian government during the investigation.

Albania produces approximately 650,000 tons of crude oil annually, much of which it exported to the European Union.

Related Links
All About Oil and Gas News at OilGasDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
OIL AND GAS
Shell net profit retreats on lower energy prices
London (AFP) July 31, 2025
British energy giant Shell on Thursday said its net profit slid 23 percent in the first six months of the year, hit by lower oil and gas prices. Profit after tax dropped to $8.4 billion compared with $10.9 billion in the first half of 2024, Shell said in an earnings statement. Group revenue dropped nearly nine percent to $136.6 billion in the reporting period. Shell pointed to "lower realised liquids and gas prices", while chief executive Wael Sawan said the company had been operating "in a ... read more

OIL AND GAS
OIL AND GAS
Life Could Thrive Underground on Mars and Icy Moons Thanks to Cosmic Radiation

China Focus: Chinese scientist details first planned Mars sample-return mission Tianwen 3

Skyfall Mars helicopter fleet to scout future astronaut landing sites

Curiosity Rovers Boxwork Campaign Reaches New Heights on Mount Sharp

OIL AND GAS
Team led by MDA Space to define future of Canadian lunar vehicle program

Lunar soil machine developed to build bricks using sunlight

NASA picks Firefly Aerospace for ambitious 2029 lunar rover and instrument delivery

NASA readying for crewed Artemis II moon flight

OIL AND GAS
Simulated ice volcanoes reveal how water behaves on distant moons

China eyes Neptune for groundbreaking ice giant mission

JunoCam revived by onboard heat treatment just in time for Io flyby

Rare Trans Neptunian Object Reveals Unexpected Orbital Dance with Neptune

OIL AND GAS
Chemistry that shaped the cosmos revealed in helium hydride reaction study

Building blocks of life found in distant star system suggest origins in interstellar space

One billion years of protein evolution reveals surprising design flexibility

Diverse rocky planets found around nearby red dwarf including one in the habitable zone

OIL AND GAS
4D images show heat shield damage goes below the surface

Eris rocket debut signals new chapter for Australia's launch ambitions

SpaceX scrubs static fire test of Falcon 9 due to issue

New MachLab rocket test site launches UK into next phase of space engineering

OIL AND GAS
Six Chinese universities to launch new low altitude space major this fall

International deep space alliance launched in Hefei China

China launches international association to boost global access to deep space research

Chinese Long March Rockets Make International Debut at Paris Air Show

OIL AND GAS
Heliostat arrays eyed for asteroid detection during nighttime hours

Tianwen-2 radar to reveal inner secrets of asteroids and comets

Seismic signatures reveal fragmentation patterns of fireball meteoroids

Massive Boulders Ejected During DART Mission Complicate Future Asteroid Deflection Efforts

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.