Rosenets (port terminal)

History

2023: Coming under the control of the Bulgarian authorities

On September 4, 2023, Bulgarian Minister of Transport and Communications Georgi Gvozdeikov announced that the country's authorities had taken control of the Rosenets oil terminal, taking it from Lukoil Neftochim Burgas. At the same time, the Bulgarian government does not intend to pay compensation to Lukoil due to the termination of the concession.

The agreement on the operation of the Rosenets port terminal was concluded between Lukoil and the Bulgarian authorities in 2011 for a period of 35 years. However, in August 2023, the Bulgarian parliament decided to terminate the concession due to sanctions imposed against Russia in the current geopolitical situation. Gvozdeikov said that the concession with Lukoil was terminated due to "force majeure circumstances" against the background of the observed situation. The Bulgarian authorities expect that the cancellation of the lease agreement will not affect the cost of fuel in the country.

Port terminal "Rosenets"

The state has every opportunity to manage the terminal and will not allow emergencies. Lukoil may seek its rights somewhere else, but not in Bulgaria, "Gvozdeikov emphasized.

According to TASS, the authors of the initiative to return the oil port to state control were representatives of the coalitions of the Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria party with the Union of Democratic Forces, Continuing Change with Democratic Bulgaria, as well as the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. At the same time, the initiative was criticized by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, who said that the rapid adoption of amendments to the law, on the basis of which the lease of the Rosenets oil terminal was terminated, contradicts the constitution and principles of the rule of law, and is also an example of irresponsible attitude towards citizens. Lukoil, in turn, emphasizes that it strictly complies with the laws of Bulgaria and the European Union as a whole.^[1]

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