Lukoil warns of trouble if derogation ends in December
Bulgarian oil refinery Lukoil Neftohim said the decision to cancel the derogation in the first months of 2024 will be tantamount to canceling the the import of Russian oil from December. After a meeting between representatives of GERB, MRF and WCC-DB, it was announced that from January 1st export quotas will be suspended, and from March 1st, the final cancellation of the derogation will follow.
"The lack of an opportunity to export these products will lead to a rapid overflow of the refinery's warehouses, and this - to a forced stoppage of production. This may put the Burgas refinery in conditions of increased technological and logistical risk and threaten the supply of fuels for the Bulgarian market," said Lukoil refinery, demanding what it called "a workable solution".
The first reading of a bill by Delyan Dobrev from GERB, which proposes that the refinery stop working with Russian oil immediately, saw renewed tension between the parties. GERB and MRF voted "for", but their informal coalition partner WCC-DB abstained.
Borissov again takes Stoyanov's side
GERB"s leader Boyko Borissov has again thrown his weight behind beleaguered minister of the interior Kalin Stoyanov in the wake of last week's violent protests against the Bulgarian Football Federation: "The minister should not resign. If he leaves, Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov must also resign," said the former prime minister.
Speculation is rife that Stoyanov was nominated for minister by both Borissov and MRF's new head Delyan Peevski. Stoyanov's resignation was demanded by WCC-DB due to violent clashes between demonstrators and the police.
Two Bulgarians abducted by Houthis
A Japanese managed ship in the Red Sea was hijacked on Sunday in the Red Sea and two Bulgarian citizens abducted. On Monday, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Zhivko Kotsev, specified that the ship's captain and his deputy are Bulgarians. Their relatives have been notified, and the case is also being worked with the partner secret services.
On Sunday, Israel announced that Yemen's Houthis had seized a cargo ship in the southern Red Sea, describing the incident as an "Iranian terrorist act" with implications for international maritime security.
Onboard the vessel are 25 crew members of various nationalities including Ukrainian, Bulgarian, Filipino and Mexican but no Israelis.
Lukoil warns of trouble if derogation ends in December
Bulgarian oil refinery Lukoil Neftohim said the decision to cancel the derogation in the first months of 2024 will be tantamount to canceling the the import of Russian oil from December. After a meeting between representatives of GERB, MRF and WCC-DB, it was announced that from January 1st export quotas will be suspended, and from March 1st, the final cancellation of the derogation will follow.
