Politico: Bulgaria and Romania are looking for ways to remove Lukoil refineries operating in their countries from US sanctions

Authorities in Bulgaria and Romania are trying to find ways for Lukoil oil refineries in their countries to continue operating despite American sanctions, Politico writes.

Thus, the publication reports, Bulgaria has already passed a law allowing the government to appoint its management at the Lukoil-owned oil refinery in Burgas. The possibility of nationalizing the enterprise is also being considered.

In Romania, Politico notes, the nationalization of the Lukoil refinery in Ploiesti is still considered an extreme option and they plan to seek a deferment of American sanctions.

The Burgas refinery, the publication recalls, provides about 80% of the Bulgarian fuel market. Stopping its work threatens fuel shortages and an economic crisis.

The Ploiesti refinery accounts for about 20% of the Romanian fuel market, but shutting down the plant, Politico notes, could negatively affect fuel supplies to neighboring Moldova.

• American sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft, as well as their subsidiaries, are due to come into force on November 21, 2025.
• Germany, Bloomberg reported at the end of October, received a reprieve from the United States - it will have another six months to regulate the status of Rosneft subsidiaries on German territory.
• Lukoil, after the United States imposed sanctions, announced the sale of foreign assets to Gunvor, one of the founders of which was Russian businessman Gennady Timchenko. However, the US Treasury said that “as long as Putin continues these senseless murders, “the Kremlin puppet Gunvor will never receive a license to operate and make a profit.” Gunvor called the Ministry of Finance’s statement “based on fundamentally incorrect information and deceitful,” but refused to purchase Lukoil’s assets.