Energy Expert: Currently being monitored, etc. ship to ship transfer of Russian oil in Burgas Bay

The removal of Russian oil from the European market has no effect on fuel prices and security of supply. Together with the Center for Energy and Clean Air Research from Finland, we have been working for the last two years to expose all the loopholes in the sanctions regime of Europe and the G-7 countries, which loopholes allow Russia to continue to earn huge funds from the sale of oil and gas around the world. This is what the energetic said in the program "Bulgaria, Europe and the world in focus" on Radio "Focus“ expert Martin Vladimirov from the Center for the Study of Democracy, author of the report "Using the loophole. The Czech Republic has spent five times more on Russian oil and gas than on aid to Ukraine.

According to him, the only way to respond to Russian aggression is to take over Russian assets under special supervision by the state, "because these assets, the refinery, the network of gas stations and storage facilities in our country are objects of national security and should not be are being left in the hands of a company from a country that has officially declared us an enemy,” he is categorical, emphasizing that derogations and processed products from Russian oil in third countries are unacceptable and must eliminate and expose all bad practices.

According to the expert, Bulgaria is one of the proofs that independence from Russian oil on the market is completely achievable – on January 1 of this year, the import of Russian oil stopped completely, but in no way did we feel the increase in fuel prices and there are no problems with supplies. Currently, 40% of the oil in our country arrives from Kazakhstan, and the remaining quantities arrive from other destinations, including Saudi Arabia, Norway, Egypt, Guyana.

"I must emphasize that there are risks from the fact that part of the Kazakh oil that arrives in our country is washed Russian oil, since "Lukoil" makes swap deals with the Kazakhstan National Oil Company to supply the required quantities. This process is also being monitored and we are trying to expose the cases where this kind of laundering is involved,” he explained.

Martin Vladimirov added that they are currently monitoring etc. ship to ship transfer of oil in the Burgas Bay for violations, as according to him this is a signal and a red light that Russia is playing with different types of oil that are transported in one tanker and is trying to hide the true origin of the oil. "This is a practice that also happens in the Mediterranean, in Greece especially.“

Regarding the sale of the refinery to "Lukoil” in Burgas, the expert pointed out that so far there are only rumors about the possible buyer from the Turkish side, as well as from the side of a Hungarian company. "There are serious risks to a potential deal that aims for the assets not to go to a Western company, but to intermediaries close to the Kremlin, so that in the end, control and profit from the operation of the refinery somehow remain in Russian hands.“