The Bulgarian state can take control of the Burgas oil refinery, owned by Russian oil group Lukoil, for a year, parliamentarians in Sofia agreed on Friday in a vote aimed at protecting vital infrastructure and ensuring fuel supplies to the neighboring country, Bloomberg reported. .

With a processing capacity of 196,000 barrels per day, the Neftochim Burgas refinery is Bulgaria’s largest fuel producer and has begun processing only Russian crude after the neighboring country won an exemption from an EU embargo on seaborne oil imports from Russia.

Under the terms of the exemption, which runs until the end of 2024, the Neftochim Burgas Refinery can no longer export fuel or petroleum products starting February 5, 2023, except for supplies to Ukraine. The Burgas refinery can also export by-products if they cannot be safely stored in Bulgaria and pose a risk to the environment.

The management of Lukoil Neftokhim previously warned that it may have to close the refinery if it cannot export the produced products.

According to legal amendments adopted by parliament in Sofia on Friday by 141 votes to 24, the economy ministry can appoint a special representative to take control of the refinery if there are threats to national security or the supply of vital resources. .

“The changes in the legislation will make Bulgaria a strong country capable of intervening in a critical situation,” said Martin Dimitrov, a parliamentarian from the Democratic Bulgaria party.

A special representative can also be appointed if the Burgas refinery violates competition rules or sanctions adopted by the European Union. (Agerpress)

(article photo: ©Mihail Ivanov|Dreamstime.com)