site.btaParliament Votes Conclusively that in Case of Crisis State Can Take Over Operational Control of Burgas Refinery

The National Assembly adopted on second reading Friday amendments to the Act on administrative regulation of economic activities, related to crude oil and petroleum products. The amendments were submitted by Democratic Bulgaria. They empower the state to put the Burgas oil refinery under operational control, the party explained.

Under the amended law, critical, strategic infrastructure sites which are crucial to national energy security, intended for the production, processing, treatment, storage and transportation of oil, including through pipelines, and energy products, are subject to supervision by the minister of economy and industry.

Also, in the event of a threat to national security, abuse of monopoly position or international restrictive measures imposed, the state will be able to take over the operational control of the company by appointing a special representative to manage it.

The conditions to be fulfilled by the special manager are listed, including that they must have at least five years of professional management experience in economic activities related to oil and petroleum products.

The powers of the special manager are also explicitly set out: to take charge of the operational management of critical infrastructure, to take action to remedy breaches identified by the advisory board and to take action to safeguard the assets. The special manager shall not dispose of or alienate any of the company's assets or incur any financial obligations except in the ordinary course of management and ordinary business.

According to Tsoncho Ganev of Vazrazhdane, this is a way to nationalise the refinery, which should also be an option with US power plants.

Delyan Dobrev of GERB-UDF explained that what is being proposed now is to give a mechanism where if Lukoil "gets angry and decides to lock up the refinery," a special manager can be appointed without taking away ownership. He said the company remains the property of the private investor, but the aim is to ensure the security of fuel supply in Bulgaria.

In the course of the debate, there was an exchange of insults between MPs from BSP for Bulgaria and Tsoncho Ganev from Vazrazhdane.