Energy Minister on Lukoil Neftohim Burgas: No Interest.

Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov stated a lack of information about expressed investor interest and ongoing negotiations for a potential sale of "Lukoil Neftohim Burgas". This became clear in an interview for the Bulgarian National Television (BNT).

According to the minister's statement, the person appointed by him to the Supervisory Board of the refinery has not raised or considered the issue of selling assets.

Minister Stankov reminded that the Ministry of Energy exercises control through a golden share in the strategic site and has its representative on the Supervisory Board. He emphasized the importance of taking all possible measures by the state to ensure security, considering that "Lukoil Neftohim Burgas" is a key part of Bulgaria's critical infrastructure, of essential importance for national security.

"Therefore, both a special manager, who can be appointed, and colleagues from the State Agency for National Security (DANS) should have the right to speak, and at the beginning of this government we also created a screening mechanism (in the Investment Promotion Act, author's note), which is headed by Deputy Prime Minister Donchev, and we can guarantee that the sale or acquisition of such strategic assets can only happen under the supervision of the state", clarified Minister Stankov.

In the same context, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) recalls that the MPs supported in first reading changes in the Investment Promotion Act this week. These changes provide that the sale of assets of the Russian oil company "Lukoil" in the country will be possible only after a decision of the Council of Ministers and a positive opinion from the State Agency "National Security".