Energy Committee did not adopt proposal to cancel Lukoil's derogation within 3 days of promulgation of law changes

With the votes of “We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria”, "Vazrazhdane" and "BSP for Bulgaria", the Parliament’s Energy Committee on November 14 did not adopt the proposal of GERB-UDF to cancel the derogation for Lukoil to work with Russian oil, within three days of the promulgation of the changes to the law on control of the implementation of restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine in the State Gazette.

The committee accepted the proposal of the WCC-DB that the National Revenue Agency instead of Bulgartransgaz collect a transit fee of BGN 20 per megawatt for Russian gas through Bulgaria.

Russian oil import derogation has no impact on fuel prices, experts say

"Some of the customs documents say that some of the fuel was delivered in high seas, customs do not know where it goes from there. I have sent a signal to the Prosecutor General and the head of SANS why this law has not worked for 10 months, why there is no compensation, why all citizens are harmed," said Delyan Dobrev, GERB-UDF.

What necessitates this rush before the winter months. It is becoming clear that they are relying on imports without considering the consequences if the refinery fails to switch to non-Russian crude oil. This is a serious risk", added Radoslav Rybarski, "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria”.

"Isn't it more logical for the executive to start doing its job, for the Customs Agency to do its job and for consumers to have the opportunity to benefit from this derogation for the first time?" said Yordan Todorov of Vazrazhdane.

"We from the BSP will not support this proposal. If someone has abused this derogation, let him take the responsibility and this is the job of the investigating authorities, given that we can and have the opportunity to appoint a special manager to monitor abuse, I do not understand what necessitates this haste," said Dragomir Stoynev, BSP for Bulgaria.

"I think the three-day deadline is too aggressive expectation. I assume that it is made in order to provoke specific actions further, although such actions are taken by the refinery management. It is more important not to cause disruption in the domestic market. The derogation is not focused on how the refinery works technologically, but it is focused on not creating deficits on the oil product markets," Energy Minister Rumen Radev said.