Russian oil giant Lukoil said on Tuesday it would consider selling its Bulgarian refinery following a government plan to halt imports of Russian crude, a move the company criticized as “discriminatory”.
“In view of the significant changes in the operating situation of the Bulgarian Lukoil Group of companies, the company has started work to review its strategy regarding this asset. Various options will be analyzed, including the sale of the business,” Lukoil said. said in a statement on its website.
Historically close to Moscow and almost entirely dependent on Russian oil and gas imports before the war, Bulgaria has recently sought to break away from this dependence.
EU member states will be granted an exemption from the bloc's embargo on Russian crude oil, which runs until the end of 2024, allowing refineries to produce oil for domestic consumption or export petroleum products to Ukraine and other European countries. It was approved that
But Bulgaria's new pro-European government plans to end the EU exemption by March next year, according to recent parliamentary proposals expected to be approved in the coming weeks.
The government also imposed a 60% tax on the profits of Russian oil companies.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lukoil condemned “the adoption of discriminatory laws and other unfair and biased political decisions against refineries by the Bulgarian state authorities.”
The Russian oil giant said it was “not subject to sanctions by the European Union” and complained that it was the victim of an “artificially incited political storm” around its Bulgarian refinery that had damaged its business. Ta.
Lukoil acquired the Neftochim refinery in the Black Sea city of Burgas in 1999, making it the largest refinery in the Balkans.
The company's distribution division also has a semi-monopoly on the Bulgarian market, with nine oil depots, 220 gas stations and a network of companies supplying ships and aircraft.
Experts say Bulgaria is already deprived of Russian gas due to lack of adequate port infrastructure and congestion in the Bosphorus, and could face difficulties in supplying crude oil once the exemption ends. .
