The "Lukoil" refinery in Burgas is the largest taxpayer. Another 3,000 companies are connected to it. Exports are 4 billion leva, of which about 1.5 billion leva are returned. By closing the market abroad, the budget will lose about 100 million leva every month. This was stated to "This Morning" on bTV by Alexander Nikolov, former Minister of Energy.
"The behavior of the government, which decided to temporarily ban the export of diesel and aviation fuel, shows startling measures. For me, the decision to introduce a temporary measure to ban exports is very startling. The way it is described has many strange details."
"The head of the "Customs" agency will decide when the export exceptions are applied. In addition, the ban is in force, and the state has another 5 days to check the reserves," Nikolov revealed.
"Before "Lukoil" there are two options for the sanctions to be lifted - either they will be lifted with the end of the war in Ukraine or the refinery will have a new owner."
When prices rise, the market does not tolerate a vacuum, he added.
"The export ban will push down prices in our country and inflate those abroad. These are conditions for smuggling."
Alexander Nikolov asked whether the state has a representative at the refinery in Burgas or not.
"How is it possible that the state has not been able to step into the shoes of "Lukoil" for 11 days. Every liter of oil that enters Bulgaria has clear traceability - whether there are shortages, to whom it is sold and where the fuel goes. All this cannot be hidden."
He believes that "hell stinks" of a specific order as to what to do with "Lukoil".