The security of fuel supplies to the country is guaranteed despite the sanctions imposed by the United States against "Lukoil" and its subsidiaries, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov assured today. He made a statement near Vetrino, where the atmosphere seemed to foreshadow the seriousness of the situation.
Minister Stankov recalled that by a decision of the Council of Ministers from 2009, important facilities such as the refinery, oil pipelines and the port in Rosenets have been designated as critical infrastructure, of key importance for both energy and national security. "For me, the most important thing is to guarantee the security of supplies, to guarantee citizens and businesses sufficient quantities of fuel," Stankov emphasized, demonstrating confidence. He assured that all necessary measures have been taken. According to him, the supply security plan is already in action, as the country has sufficient reserves for months to come.
The sanctions, which came into force after a certain date, mainly affect the method of payment, Stankov clarified. In this regard, he added that a connection has been made with the Minister of Justice and with the authority that issued the restrictions, in order to create all conditions for achieving the goals of the sanctions, without undermining the interests of Bulgarian citizens.
The minister recalled that oil is a commodity, and noted that mild changes are observed in the markets, which, however, will not affect future talks with the oil and gas association. He stressed that the security of supplies is fully guaranteed and assured that Bulgarian citizens should not experience any concerns.
Regarding the Russian company's plans to sell its assets, the minister said that it is essential, in coordination with the partners from the European Union and the United States, to preserve the functioning of the refinery, as well as the jobs. He stressed that stopping or hindering the work of the refinery would lead to the loss of assets, which neither he as a minister nor the government would allow. "The refinery is functioning to this day," he added. The minister noted that it is important to guarantee both jobs and supplies until the planned sale is carried out. "The sanctions are against the assets, in other words, they can be sold after finding a buyer, who is then approved," Stankov clarified. He stressed the key role of the Bulgarian state in the approval process, through the screening mechanism and the State Agency "National Security", which will also monitor the development.