As the ban on the export of petroleum products was related to the need to satisfy the needs of the Bulgarian market mainly with diesel, I believe that these preconditions will not be present very soon, but the National Assembly must decide on the repeal of this moratorium. This was commented by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov during the blitz control in the Parliament.
MP Krasimir Manov ("Moral, Unity, Honor") asked when the moratorium on the export of diesel and aviation fuel will be lifted, noting that the refinery in Burgas is operating at 50 percent reduced capacity and revenues to the state treasury have decreased significantly.
The ban on the export of petroleum products was taken by the National Assembly (NA), so it is entirely within the competence of the NA to have this decision repealed when the parliament decides, the Prime Minister pointed out. The refinery is currently working. The reduced production capacity of petroleum products has been a trend for the last year, it is not related to the sanctions against "Lukoil", but rather to the international conjuncture of the price of oil. So there is no direct link between the production of petroleum products and the ban on their export, said Rosen Zhelyazkov.
At the end of October, the National Assembly temporarily banned the export and intra-community supplies to member states of the European Union (EU) of petroleum products, mainly diesel and aviation fuel. The measure is motivated by the need to guarantee the country's energy security and the stability of the domestic fuel market and by the sanctions imposed by the US against the Russian company "Lukoil“ .
Krasimir Manov also asked a question regarding the signed engineering and consulting contract between "NPP Kozloduy - New Capacities" EAD and a Canadian consortium in connection with the construction of blocks 7 and 8. He pointed out that there is a decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union from September 11 in connection with state aid regarding the construction of new nuclear power plants and the consequence is that such facilities and specifically blocks 7 and 8 cannot be built in the way we have started. Therefore, Manov asked when the Council of Ministers will make a decision to terminate the project.
Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov commented that Bulgaria must develop its nuclear energy, because this is one of the main pillars on which competitiveness is based. As for the construction of the capacities, a supervision contract was signed these days, he pointed out. This is part of the overall package for their construction and I assure you that it complies with national and European legislation, the Prime Minister stated.