Bulgaria’s strategic fuel reserves stored within the country are sufficient to cover about one month of domestic consumption, according to Asen Asenov, head of the State Reserve Agency. He explained that roughly half of Bulgaria’s total fuel reserves are located abroad.
Current figures show that Bulgaria holds gasoline reserves sufficient for approximately 35 days and diesel stocks for over 50 days. Together, these levels nearly meet the EU requirement of maintaining 90 days of mandatory reserves. However, only half of these are kept within Bulgarian territory, while the rest are stored in facilities across Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia, Greece, and Romania. These foreign reserves could be transported to Bulgaria within a period of one week to 45 days if necessary.
Asenov noted that three private companies have not yet met their legal storage obligations due to limited capacity, resulting in a shortfall equivalent to around five days of reserves. He added that about 80 percent of all mandatory reserves held by private companies come from Lukoil. Despite these challenges, the Government has pledged to ensure sufficient national fuel reserves under any circumstances. Monthly inspections are conducted to verify both the volume and quality of stored fuels in coordination with private operators.
Asenov also confirmed that operations at Lukoil’s Burgas refinery will continue, with contingency measures in place to guarantee uninterrupted diesel and petrol production even in case of reduced output or temporary shutdowns. In a potential supply crisis, Bulgaria would first release domestic reserves before accessing those stored abroad.
Meanwhile, local media have reported rising fuel prices at petrol stations following U.S. sanctions on Russian oil company Lukoil, with diesel experiencing the steepest increase. To prevent potential shortages, the Bulgarian Parliament recently adopted emergency legislation banning the export of petrochemical products, primarily diesel, to protect domestic supply.
Lawmakers also passed an additional urgent measure establishing state-appointed oversight of Lukoil’s Bulgarian operations. This ensures that refining and distribution activities can continue beyond November 21, when the U.S. sanctions take effect.
Vice President Iliana Iotova warned that any disruption or loss of operations at the Burgas refinery would leave Bulgaria in a highly vulnerable position. She emphasized that the refinery is a facility of national strategic importance and that resolving the issue will require not only parliamentary unity but also a broad national consensus to safeguard Bulgaria’s long-term energy and economic stability.
