The sale of Lukoil's international assets, including the Neftochim refinery in Burgas and the chain of gas stations in Bulgaria, is still far from being finalized and should not be hastily interpreted as a done deal. This was stated by former energy minister Alexander Nikolov in the studio of NOVA's In Focus.
According to him, the announced preliminary agreement with the American investment company Carlyle is the “first more serious announcement that suggests that the war in Ukraine is coming to an end”, but remains highly dependent on the sanctions regime and the approval of the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Nikolov emphasized that Carlyle has a broad energy portfolio, including in renewable sources, which opens up the opportunity for Bulgaria to be considered strategically. “Bulgaria is a key country in the region – because of its geographical location, infrastructure and its role as a gateway from East to West“, he pointed out.
According to the former energy minister, however, the focus should not be solely on who the new owner will be. “The worst that can happen is to ignore the role of the Bulgarian state“, Nikolov said and recalled that the state has real control mechanisms – through the special manager, the golden share and the powers of several ministries.
He expressed concern that there is no publicly visible plan for what will happen if the deal is not implemented, given that the derogation expires in April. “More importantly for all Bulgarians "The refinery must function normally and there must be no disruptions in supplies and prices," Nikolov emphasized.
On the topic of possible fuel price changes, he was categorical that they depend mainly on operational management and effective control. At the same time, he warned that energy is often used as a tool for political intimidation. "The scarecrow of the energy crisis is waved when it is convenient for someone - especially during elections," Nikolov said.