Podcast in English
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.

More from category

CITUB Vice President Ognyan Atanasov presented the results of the survey.

85% of workers in TPP and mines want to stay in the energy sector, a survey shows

If they had the opportunity, 85 per cent of workers in thermal power plants and coal mines in the Stara Zagora, Pernik and Kyustendil regions would remain in the energy sector. These results are from a survey conducted by the Confederation of Independent..

published on 7/21/25 4:40 PM
Vladimir Ivanov

The price of the consumer basket in Bulgaria has increased by 7.45% on a yearly basis

The consumer basket currently costs 101 leva (EUR 51.64), compared to 94 leva (EUR 48.06) for the same period in 2024. This represents an increase of 7 leva (EUR 3.58 euros), announced Vladimir Ivanov, Chairman of the Commodity Exchange and Wholesale..

published on 7/21/25 1:58 PM

Gabrovo's landmark buildings to become hubs for innovation and entrepreneurship

The municipality of Gabrovo has secured nearly 17 million leva in funding to develop an "innovation valley", local authorities have announced.  The project includes the transformation of the former Radion Umnikov School into a centre for digital skills..

published on 7/20/25 11:45 AM