Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Bulgaria could face fuel shortages if Lukoil stops operating, says GERB leader Borissov

Boyko Borissov
Photo: BTA

Bulgaria could run into fuel shortages if the Lukoil Neftochim refinery stops operating, former Prime Minister and GERB leader Boyko Borissov warned on Thursday.

Speaking in the corridors of parliament, Mr Borissov said the government had received advance notice of possible sanctions on Russian energy companies, particularly Lukoil. This led to preventive legislation requiring approval from Bulgaria’s domestic security agency (DANS) for any sale of the company.

'We anticipated events — we have held careful discussions with the finance minister and the governor of the central bank to monitor the situation, because this is serious business. At one point, we could even be left without fuel,' Borissov said, while noting that the United States might reconsider its position.

Assen Vassilev, leader of the 'We Continue the Change' party, added, 'If Lukoil stops operating, it would disrupt fuel supplies to the country. We do not have sufficient import capacity to cover the country’s full needs.”

Assen Vassilev

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian National Bank said it is analysing the potential impact of the sanctions, adding that 'on a systemic level, there is no direct credit risk affecting the stability of the country's banking system.'



Editor: Ivo Ivanov
Posted in English by E. Radkova



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Mostly sunny Thursday with fog in some places

The night sky will be mostly clear and in the morning in many places in the valleys and around water basins there will be fog. During the day it will be sunny, but in the Danube Plain it will remain foggy. The lowest temperatures..

published on 11/12/25 7:35 PM
Georg Georgiev

Bulgaria is against removing the unanimity requirement for EU foreign policy decisions

Bulgaria consistently opposes proposals to remove the requirement for unanimity in decision-making within the framework of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev said in response to a question from MP..

published on 11/12/25 6:09 PM
Pavel Popov

Blagomir Kotsev to be mayor of Varna from detention center

"As of today, there will be no acting mayor of Varna and the position will be held by the legally elected mayor Blagomir Kotsev," said deputy Pavel Popov at a press conference. According to him, Kotsev will fulfill his duties and the..

published on 11/12/25 3:35 PM