Bulgaria’s government is implementing robust oversight measures at the LUKOIL-owned Burgas refinery (190 000 barrels per day) following recent U.S. sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft. Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov confirmed the country will coordinate with European partners to ensure continuous fuel supplies for the domestic market through year-end.

The government is enforcing stricter asset sale approvals for any Lukoil-linked operations and enhancing security at its refinery and retail networks. Justice Minister Georgi Georgiev emphasized that entities under sanction criteria will face close scrutiny. Analysts say the move reflects growing European vulnerability to Russian-linked refining supply chains and highlights the strategic importance of refining assets in energy security planning.

Refinery operators in Central and Eastern Europe are now recalibrating sourcing strategies—reducing Russian crude dependency, enhancing feedstock flexibility, and strengthening compliance processes. Bulgaria’s pre-emptive measures could become a model for other nations with legacy Russian refining ties.