Bulgaria enjoys an exemption from the EU embargo
Bulgaria will provide refined oil merchandise made out of Russian crude to Ukraine, the Bulgarian authorities introduced in a press release on Wednesday.
The nation obtained an exemption from the EU on imports of crude oil and petroleum merchandise from Russia by way of maritime transport till the tip of 2024. It was additionally granted an unique proper to export petroleum merchandise derived from Russia’s flagship Urals mix to 3rd nations.
“That is essential to restrict environmental and security dangers, as such merchandise can’t be saved safely within the nation,” the assertion reads.
The derogation was as a result of expire on February 5, when a ban on EU imports of Russian petroleum merchandise corresponding to diesel and kerosene kicks in.
Bulgaria primarily exports gasoline oil, often known as purple diesel, to Ukraine, accounting for as much as 90% of all deliveries to the nation, in accordance with Euroactiv information. Diesel gas is utilized in heavy trade to energy equipment, mills and off-road autos, in addition to in agriculture and maritime transport.
The gas is produced on the nation’s solely refinery in Burgas, owned by Russia’s largest personal oil firm, Lukoil. The plant operates primarily with Russian oil imported by tankers by way of the Black Sea.
READ MORE: EU-owned tankers enhance Russian oil shipments
From January to November 2022, Bulgaria exported €700 million ($ 769 million) value of gas derived from Russian oil to Ukraine, Euroactiv reported, citing information from the Bulgarian Nationwide Statistical Institute. The state physique stated the determine is 1,000 instances greater than total gas deliveries in 2021, which had been valued at €750,000 ($ 823,840).
Bulgarian statistics present that Ukraine is now the nation’s third largest buying and selling accomplice when it comes to gas provides, having changed the US.
In the meantime Lukoil has denied the alleged deliveries, insisting that its refinery in Burgas doesn’t provide any gas to Ukraine.
“In reference to a brand new wave of speculative publications within the media, Lukoil as soon as once more states that it has no contracts and has not provided its manufacturing to Ukraine from the plant in Burgas or by different channels in 2022,” Lukoil informed Russian information company TASS.
The Russian firm claims it sells the gas to almost 500 Bulgarian corporations and doesn’t work with Ukraine.
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