A Hungarian company wants to buy "Lukoil-Neftochim" in Burgas.
"Golden" share does not give us the right to determine the buyer and price, but it gives us the right to control whether the enterprise will operate, what investments will be made, which is enough. What Bulgaria needs to ensure is that the company falls into the hands of people who can manage and import crude oil. The key thing for the country is for the refinery to work," said former Energy Minister Rosen Hristov on "Denyat ON AIR."
According to him, the Hungarian company is experienced, the only question is how they plan to organize crude oil supplies.
"It would be better if the ownership were Hungarian, after all, it is a European Union country. Less sudden moves can be expected from Hungary than from Russia, which has already demonstrated the ability to use energy resources as a tool for influence and blackmail. We must avoid this dependence. At the moment, we continue to supply oil by tankers from the Black Sea, which is Russian oil," Hristov added for Bulgaria ON AIR.
According to him, we do not have access to the world's logistical routes for the supply of crude oil.
"The CPC always analyzes in any case whether the new buyer, by acquiring this asset, will not gain too much influence on the market. In the case of MOL, they have no other assets in Bulgaria, so the CPC will not cause them any trouble when acquiring the company. With this "golden share" we can control the parameters that interest us," the guest explained.
Oil prices should not be kept artificially too low, Hristov is categorical.
"The contract with "Botaş" has no problems. Now its strategic importance will also come to light, since Ukraine refuses to continue gas transmission after January 1. Turkey is certainly interested in working with us, and in the long term. Europe is interested in this contract and in the partnership with Turkey. Oil prices should not be kept artificially too low," commented the former Minister of Energy.