Bulgaria’s Parliament voted 121-42, with 23 abstentions, to repeal its October 31, 2025 resolution imposing a temporary ban on exports and intra-Community supplies to EU Member States of petroleum products, mainly diesel and aviation fuel.
The draft resolution, submitted by the Council of Ministers, was backed by the ruling Progressive Bulgaria with 121 votes. The MPs who voted against lifting the ban are from Democratic Bulgaria, Continue the Change, Vazrazhdane and three from GERB-UDF. Twenty-three MPs of GERB-UDF abstained. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms parliamentary group did not take part in the vote.
The majority rejected a proposal by GERB-UDF MP Aleksandar Ivanov to include a provision that the price of diesel and petrol for end consumers would fall by EUR 0.20.
The reasons for introducing the ban in 2025 were related to ensuring the country’s energy security and the stability of the domestic fuel market in view of the US sanctions imposed on companies in Lukoil Group.
Since the ban was introduced, circumstances have changed, as the US and UK sanctions do not apply to the Lukoil companies in Bulgaria, including Lukoil Neftohim Burgas, because a full special exemption has been granted for them by the governments of the countries imposing the sanctions, according to the motives for the draft resolution. All risks that prompted the adoption of the ban have now been overcome, and maintaining it creates significant administrative and organizational obstacles for the fuel business and losses for operators unable to fulfil their contractual obligations to international counterparties.
Deputy Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Mihaela Karadimova said the production capacity of the refinery in Burgas exceeds domestic consumption. This means that after meeting the needs of Bulgarian consumers and businesses, a quantity of finished product remains that, for objective economic reasons, should be sold abroad. Lifting the ban does not mean putting exports ahead of supplies to the Bulgarian market, she said.
Around 50,000 tonnes of diesel fuel worth about USD 73.2 million were available at the Lukoil Neftohim Burgas site as of September 3, according to information from the special commercial administrator, the deputy minister said. This exceeds the needs of the Bulgarian market. If additional quantities from October production accumulate, the total value of the held product could reach about USD 197.6 million. Lukoil Neftohim is operating at 90% of capacity and is prioritizing the domestic market, Karadimova stressed.
Slavi Vassilev, Deputy Floor Leader of Progressive Bulgaria, said the export ban would not affect the price of diesel because it would continue to be determined by international markets, but would help the refinery and fuel traders. It would also free up storage capacity in Bulgaria needed for domestic trade. The decision is market-based and will have no effect on the price of diesel, and if it does, the effect will be downward, the MP said. According to him, the price of diesel is determined by a quotation influenced by the war in Ukraine.
Assen Vassilev MP of Continue the Change asked what determines the diesel quotation. If diesel is made from oil, perhaps the price of oil has a bearing on the price of diesel, the Continue the Change leader and former finance minister said. In addition to the price of diesel, customers also have to pay excise duty and VAT. At a time when there is a fuel shortage and prices are rising globally, you are deciding to lift the export ban and trying to convince Parliament that this is good for Bulgarians, he said. According to Assen Vassilev, this benefits the diesel oil manufacturer, who will export it at higher prices, and the price will also rise for all Bulgarians.
So far this year, Bulgaria has been exporting fuel when there are surplus stocks, said Hristo Gadzhev MP of GERB-UDF. However, under a resolution of the previous parliament, the State exercises control over this trade to prevent shortages, he said. “What you are proposing is effectively to remove State control and allow businesses to export whenever and as much as they want,” the MP said.
Martin Dimitrov MP of Democratic Bulgaria said: “You are taking a risky step that could lead to an even greater increase in fuel prices. Ivaylo Mirchev of the same group said the decision to lift the ban was being heavily influenced by “an oligarch close to Progressive Bulgaria, who used to be close to [Movement for rights and Freedoms leader] Delyan Peevski”. Mirchev added that if all storage facilities in Bulgaria were full, there would be scope for a lower price.
Parliament Lifts Temporary Ban on Exports and Intra-EU Supplies of Petroleum Products 2026 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2026-09-23 14:54:47
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