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

Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings upgrade Bulgaria's rating from "BBB" to "BBB+"

Due to Bulgaria's accession to the eurozone, the international rating agencies Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings have upgraded the country’s long-term foreign currency issuer default rating to ‘BBB+’ with a stable outlook , which is..

published on 7/11/25 9:05 AM

Italian investors show interest in the concession of Plovdiv Airport

Italian investors have shown interest in the concession and development of Plovdiv Airport as a passenger and cargo terminal. This became clear during a meeting between Plovdiv District Governor Hristina Yancheva and the Ambassador of Italy to..

published on 7/10/25 9:20 AM

Bad staffing, short season or lack of strategy – where is the root of the problems in Bulgarian tourism?

On the threshold of the active summer season, which in this country is no more than two months – July and August, the tourism industry is relatively calm. Bookings are good and forecasts for a growth of 6% compared to last year at the..

published on 7/8/25 11:27 PM