site.btaGovernment Ramps Up Security at Lukoil Sites

The Ministry of Interior, State Agency for National Security (SANS) and Ministry of Defence introduced extra security measures at Lukoil sites nationwide, the Council of Ministers said on Sunday.

This includes reinforced land, water and air protection for critical infrastructure, and inspections of safety and classified information procedures at Lukoil Neftochim Burgas and Lukoil-Bulgaria.

Following last week's working meetings at the Council of Ministers, attended by the leadership of the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior, and security agencies, a series of preventive measures is being implemented. These are in response to the recent decision by the United States to sanction the Russian company Lukoil, alongside incidents at Lukoil sites in several European countries.

Ongoing inspections are assessing the implementation of the security plan and measures at strategic sites and zones of Lukoil Neftochim Burgas and Lukoil-Bulgaria. The government press office also reported that SANS is conducting a thematic review to verify compliance with the Protection of Classified Information Act and applicable secondary regulations.

Relevant departments within the Ministry of Interior are managing public order and crime prevention at the company’s facilities nationwide. The Ministry of Defence has deployed an anti-drone system to the Burgas region, and Military Police teams are ready to support the Ministry of Interior in securing strategic sites if required.

On November 7, the National Assembly adopted legislative amendments concerning the appointment of a special commercial administrator (SCA) at Lukoil. In two readings at a single session, Parliament expanded the powers of the SCA for critical infrastructure assets with amendments to the Act on Administrative Regulation of Economic Activities Associated with Oil and Petroleum Products, introducing the SCA post for Lukoil's assets in Bulgaria.