Bulgaria’s Lukoil refinery has sufficient reserves, PM Radev tells Parliament
Bulgarian Prime Minister Roumen Radev told Parliament on October 13 that the Lukoil Neftochim refinery in Bourgas has sufficient reserves to last to the end of the year and there is no reason to panic.
Radev was speaking during a hearing on the drone attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea and the arson of Starlink antennas near Sofia, and was replying to a question from opposition GERB-UDF MP Hristo Gadzhev.
Gadzhev asked what the government would do to deal with the economic consequences of the attacks, specifically mentioning the growing insurance risk for shipping in the Black Sea, which is also pushing up other transportation costs.
Radev used the hearing to address opposition concerns that the country could face a fuel shortage after the ruling majority lifted the export ban.
In addition to accusing GERB-UDF leader Boiko Borissov of inciting panic, Radev argued that there is no scenario in which Bulgaria would be left without crude oil and without diesel.
Radev said that there is and will be diesel, the Lukoil refinery is provided with raw materials, and the new special manager, whom his cabinet appointed , has managed to increase the volume of processing.
“There are currently enough reserves at Lukoil. There are 140 000 tons of oil in the storage facility. There are another 420 000 tons to be unloaded from three tankers that are in our territorial waters.
“These tankers have already been agreed upon in terms of prices and insurance, so there will be no changes there, and Lukoil is provided with raw material until November inclusive. I can say that even until mid-December,” Radev said.
“I want to state most responsibly to the Bulgarian citizens that there is no room for panic, no room for any hysteria and pre-election manipulations,” he said.
“Monthly consumption in Bulgaria, consumption, is 190 000 tons. Lukoil produces about 250 000 tons per month, so we have no problem exporting. We have a surplus,” Radev said.
(Photo: Kiril Havezov)
