ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Burgas refinery switches to oil from Kazakhstan, Iraq and Tunisia

Photo: Ani Petrova

According to the London Stock Exchange (LSE), in January Bulgaria replaced imports of Russian oil with imports from Kazakhstan, Iraq and Tunisia, reports BTA, citing Reuters. 

Bulgaria has a derogation from the EU embargo against Russia, allowing it to import Russian oil by sea through 2024. But the country has restricted exports of all refined products produced from Russian crude from this month, making it almost impossible for its sole refinery Lukoil Neftochim Burgas to run on Russian oil, and has decided to stop all Russian crude imports from March.

Bulgaria was the fourth largest buyer of Russian oil by sea in 2023, with more than 100,000 barrels per day. The profitability of the plant is also affected by a 60% tax imposed by the Bulgarian government on the refinery's profits. The Russian company has already said that it is considering selling its assets in Bulgaria. Reuters notes that Lukoil and the Bulgarian Economy Ministry did not respond to requests for comment on the information.


Bulgaria can take over operation of Russian company Lukoil's Neftochim Burgas refinery for up to a year, lawmakers decided on Friday in a vote aimed at protecting critical infrastructure and ensuring fuel supplies for the Balkan country. In doing so, Sofia is paving the way to take control of Lukoil's oil refinery if necessary, comments Reuters.

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.
Radio Bulgaria Economy    Iraq Kazakhstan Lukoil Neftochim Burgas oil Russia Tunisia

More from category

Moody’s: Eurozone entry supports Bulgaria’s institutions, but corruption remains challenge

Membership in the European Union and Bulgaria’s upcoming adoption of the euro on January 1, 2026, are supporting the country’s institutions and governance stability, but corruption remains a significant challenge, according to the latest country..

published on 7/28/25 10:28 AM

The government proposes that prices in euros and leva be displayed until the end of 2026

The government has submitted to Parliament a draft bill to amend and supplement the Law on the Introduction of the Euro in Bulgaria. The proposed changes aim to improve the regulatory framework related to the dual display of prices for goods and..

published on 7/22/25 10:42 AM

Bulgaria has the lowest government debt-to-GDP ratio in the EU

The ratio of government debt to gross domestic product (GDP) in EU countries rose to 81.8% at the end of the first quarter of 2025 , up from 81% at the end of the fourth quarter of 2024. This is according to the latest data published today by the European..

published on 7/21/25 5:58 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 21 | Max: 32
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 22 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 14 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 38
Clear
Min: 20 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 16 | Max: 33
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 34
Clear
Min: 15 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 37
Clear
Min: 17 | Max: 36
Clear
Min: 18 | Max: 35
Clear
Min: 19 | Max: 36
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"