(MENAFN) Bulgarian legislators are now gearing up to push for an immediate ban on the purchase of Russian oil, overturning previous plans to wait until next year to implement such a ban. This change in direction was reported by local news outlet Mediapool, citing Desislava Atanasova, the leader of the Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party.
Bulgaria had previously been granted an exemption from the EU-wide ban on buying crude oil from Russia. This exemption allowed the country to continue procuring oil for its Neftohim refinery, which is owned by Russia's Lukoil, until the end of 2024. Notably, earlier this month, lawmakers in Sofia had contemplated a motion to ban the use of Russian crude at the refinery, but eventually decided to opt for a gradual reduction and a postponement of the complete cessation until October 2024.
However, Atanasova and her party are now seeking to challenge this decision, and as per the report, the Bulgarian parliament may consider this motion in November. If approved, Lukoil will be compelled to halt the processing of Russian oil at its facility within a week.
This change in stance has garnered support from another parliamentary faction, the 'Movement for Rights and Freedoms.'
Finance Minister Assen Vassilev emphasized that a decision concerning the supply of Russian oil to Neftohim had already been made. Still, he noted that the government would be open to considering any new proposals once they are officially submitted.
The initial reluctance in Sofia to impose an outright ban on Russian crude stemmed from concerns about the considerable challenges this would pose for the Neftohim refinery, which plays a pivotal role in supplying most of Bulgaria's diesel and gasoline. The revised schedule is intended to provide Neftohim with the necessary time to seek alternative sources for its crude oil needs.
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