OREANDA-NEWS. January 15, 2014. Finnish Customs has levied a penalty payment totaling approximately EUR 44 million on Neste Oil because Finnish biofuel mandate requirements were not met in 2009 and 2010.

Biofuel mandate legislation requires that companies distributing liquid fuels must provide the appropriate energy content specified for biofuels in the fuel that they supply for use by customers. The legislation in question is intended to increase the use of biofuels and thereby reduce emissions. Neste Oil has supplied the amount of biofuels required by legislation in 2009 and 2010.

Neste Oil disputes Finnish Customs' interpretation and believes that it complied with the requirements according to the legislation in force at the time. The disagreement between Neste Oil and Finnish Customs covers how the legislation on biofuel mandate should be interpreted. Neste Oil has appealed the Finnish Customs' decision and considers the penalty payment unjustified and it will not affect the company's result or balance sheet for 2013. The penalty payment will be paid in January 2014, when it will impact the company's cash flow.