site.btaState Well-Stocked on Fuel, Holds 90 Days Reserve Buffer, Prime Minister Gurov Says

Caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said in an interview for Radio Free Europe that the state has fuel reserves at quite solid levels, as required by law. Gurov noted that all traders are currently maintaining the required reserve levels, explaining that under the Crude Oil and Petroleum Products Stocks Act, market participants are obliged to hold specific quantities.

“In the event of supply disruptions or shortages, we would be able to sustain the market for up to 90 days, in addition to the quantities held by traders,” Gurov added.

Regarding support measures in response to rising fuel prices, he said an analysis had been conducted of price trends in recent years. Current levels, he noted, are lower than in 2022, when support measures for households and businesses were also in place. However, he added that this does not take into account changes in citizens’ purchasing power.

“There are no indications that the conflict is decreasing in intensity,” he said, referring to the situation in the Middle East. There are plans to ensure uninterrupted passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which could help ease tensions to some extent. “For now, however, the more effective measures involve releasing fuel from strategic reserves to help keep benchmark prices around USD 100,” he added, emphasizing that the Bulgarian government is closely monitoring developments.

The refinery in Burgas is currently operating at about 50–60% of its capacity, Gurov said. “We want to see steps taken to increase the refinery’s capacity so that the average production cost per unit decreases, preventing price increases from being passed directly on to consumers,” he explained, adding that the government expects action in this direction. “Lukoil has permission to export once it is authorized by the Customs Agency,” Gurov added.

“We are in direct contact, monitoring whether a deal for the sale of Lukoil’s assets is nearing completion. If no such deal materializes, we are in contact to ensure an extension of the derogation so that Neftochim can continue operating,” he said.

According to Gurov, the contract with the Turkish company BOTAS could be renegotiated. “We hope that [Energy] Minister [Traicho] Traykov’s recent efforts in this direction will soon yield results, allowing us to reduce the financial burden on the state and revise the terms so the contract becomes workable, ensuring competitive gas transmission and avoiding payments for unused capacity,” he said.

Gurov stated that a complaint is to be submitted to the Constitutional Court regarding Bulgaria’s accession to the Board of Peace established by U.S. President Donald Trump. Gurov said the cabinet is waiting for the official act of the National Assembly before filing it. According to him, Bulgaria’s participation in the council is linked to the interests of “a particular individual seeking removal from the Magnitsky list.”

In the last days of the Rosen Zhelyazkov cabinet, certain contracts worth hundreds of millions were rapidly indexed and signed within a very short timeframe, Gurov added.