Sanctions Against Lukoil: The Burgas Refinery Will Continue Operations

The US imposed sanctions against "Lukoil", but production at the refinery in Burgas will continue, Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said today in Brussels, where he arrived to participate in the meeting of the European Council. According to him, Bulgaria has a month to decide how to approach the issue.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the imposed sanctions do not prevent the production and supply of petroleum products, as the refinery has not used Russian oil for a long time. He admitted that there will be difficulties for the refinery, given its ownership. Nevertheless, Zhelyazkov assured that there are enough produced fuels and that the refinery should continue to operate. "Fuel supplies are secured, and I am not talking about the near future, but in principle," he specified.

Asked about security measures, the Prime Minister replied that the necessary actions have been taken to protect the refinery and the port in Rosenets, in order to prevent a possible sabotage.

The sanctions were imposed by the administration of former President Donald Trump. According to Zhelyazkov, Russia's inability to end the war and the killings associated with it is the reason why the EU and the Belgian administration are taking this economic approach. The refinery in Burgas is part of the "Lukoil" system in Russia, as the Russian company owns over 50% of it, making it subject to the sanctions regime. Until November 21, there is an opportunity to carry out the necessary transactions and transfers. "We have a month to make a national decision on how to approach the refinery as a state, together with the refinery itself and its management," Zhelyazkov said.

The Prime Minister noted that there is seized property of Russian companies in our country, but not funds that the EU is discussing to use as a loan for Ukraine. He stressed the importance of legal certainty, emphasizing the importance of the opinion of the European Central Bank and the legal service of the Council of the EU on the issue of a possible loan for Kyiv. An engagement from the G-7 is expected, emphasizing that it is a reparative loan, not a nationalization or expropriation of assets. "This is a loan that should then be recovered," Zhelyazkov explained.

In response to a question, the Prime Minister announced that a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels is not scheduled today.

Asked about possible changes in the government, Zhelyazkov stated that none are expected. "We have no discussions about the participation of DPS in the executive branch, either structurally or personally," he said, adding that no changes are planned in the cabinet.