The choice of Rumen Spetsov is probably surprising, but it is actually quite logical. This was stated to the Bulgarian National Radio by Vladislav Panev from the "Uskorenie" Club, a former MP from the "Green Movement".
Most likely, the management team of "Lukoil" will remain the same. Spetsov's role as a special manager will be to monitor financial flows and ensure that they do not go to Russia, he commented on the program "Predi visi".
In his words, "the special manager will sign", but he will probably not be a direct management leader.
In such a force majeure – 2 weeks for a reaction, it is difficult to find an international operator to manage the refinery, Panev pointed out.
We must be sure that there will be no companies at the entrance and exit of "Lukoil" that will drain the company like the groups in the 90s, he added and among the goals indicated ensuring continuity in the operation of the refinery.
Bulgaria can currently sovereignly manage the refinery, but it is very difficult to sell the refinery independently, regardless of the adopted law, since it is a matter of private property, Panev expressed his opinion.
The situation is serious and should not be approached hysterically, the former MP believes.
According to him, "the bomb was postponed by 6 months" and it has been seen that "there is a plan, whatever it may be", so there should be no "crescendo talks".
"The search for a buyer – most likely "Lukoil" will also move this issue to the international level. Plan A is to wait to see if a buyer will be found, sufficiently distant from the Kremlin according to the US, so that the deal can go through and the sanctions can be lifted. Option B – possibly the Bulgarian state – to "push" only for a deal with the Burgas refinery, seems to me a little more difficult as a task. It also goes through audits of the past actions of "Lukoil – Neftokhim" on tax evasion, on other issues, so that including through sanctions, fines from the tax authorities "Lukoil" will be forced to part with its assets."