site.btaRuling Majority Set Up “Secret Committee” on Lukoil, Vazrazhdane Leader Kostadin Kostadinov Says

The ruling majority has set up a “secret committee” on Lukoil, Vazrazhdane party leader Kostadin Kostadinov told reporters in Parliament’s lobby on Friday in connection with the proposed amendments concerning the Lukoil oil refinery in Burgas.

On Friday morning, the ruling coalition tabled in Parliament a bill amending the Act on Administrative Regulation of Economic Activities Associated with Oil and Petroleum Products, introducing provisions concerning the role of a special commercial administrator in Lukoil Bulgaria. The proposal was tabled by MPs from the MRF – New Beginning, GERB–UDF, There Is Such a People, and BSP – United Left parliamentary groups. Later on Friday morning, the National Assembly’s Committee on Energy approved the amendments at first reading with 12 votes in favour, none against, and no abstentions.

The issue has been debated in Parliament after Swiss commodity trader Gunvor has withdrawn its proposal to buy foreign assets of Russian energy company Lukoil after the US Treasury Department called Gunvor “Russia's puppet” and signalled that Washington opposes the deal, Reuters reported on Friday.

“This is about the theft of a major asset,” Kostadinov said. “At the moment when the Bulgarian state, represented by [MRF-New Beginning Floor Leader Delyan] Peevski and [GERB Chair Boyko] Borissov, lays hands on this asset, it will create very serious problems,” he added. “Bulgarian assets in Russia will be confiscated. Who will compensate the Bulgarian owners?” the Vazrazhdane leader asked.

Kostadinov argued that those now “frantically trying to avert the looming fuel crisis in Bulgaria have absolutely no idea what is about to happen”.