Lukoil should work, produce cheap fuel and pay its taxes, and we should use the excess profits we collect to support the industry and consumers.

The government's goal is to make fuel affordable, but parliament decides whether to give discounts.

This was stated by the Minister of Energy Rosen Hristov in the studio of "Wake Up".

Rosen Hristov has a master's degree in international economic relations from the University of California. 

According to him, the state is trying to globally reduce the prices of gas and electricity.

"At the same time, a compensation system has been developed for non-domestic users. Domestic users are on the regulated market. For non-domestic subscribers in the NS, we have changed the compensation system, and now a new one is coming. We are doing our best to make the prices affordable, but there is no option to return them to pre-crisis levels". 

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The question is whether it is possible to find a mechanism that would adequately support non-domestic consumers, since according to the Ministry of Finance some companies have serious profits precisely because of the compensations.

"This is a problem that we have identified as well.

But unfortunately, for there to be help, it must either be the same for everyone, or there should be no help at all.

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My view is that there should be some form of diversification.

We are trying to link compensation for non-residential consumers to the requirements of the latest EU directive on investments in renewable sources, energy efficiency and reduction of consumption during peak hours”.

According to him, this will diversify the compensations, but there is no possibility to choose the companies to be compensated based on a financial indicator.

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He also commented on what will happen to the price of gasoline when the exception for Bulgaria for Russian oil comes into effect on Monday.

"I don't expect any serious change.

For the time being, the derogation that we accepted and with the decision of the Council of Ministers comes into force on December 5, will allow us to maintain the current operation of the refinery for a certain period.

Our idea was never to export fuel.

The idea is to satisfy the domestic market.

And as can be seen up to now, without any restrictions, the Bulgarian market is fully satisfied with fuels and they are at the lowest price in all of Europe.

The point is that this is a temporary situation", the energy minister pointed out.

Hristov emphasized that they are actively working on a fundamental solution to the problem.

"This is a resumption of the Alexandroupolis - Burgas oil pipeline project.

This will enable us to supply the refinery with non-Russian gas via a very direct route," he said.

And he added: "We succeeded in negotiations to convince Lukoil that it is better to pay their taxes in Bulgaria."

That is, to transfer their active activity to our country.

We showed them the advantages of paying taxes in our country.

This is now a fact, and in order for it to happen, it means that the refinery works and there are supplies of fuels at acceptable prices.

The EU is currently buying oil products of Russian origin from Turkey," Hristov said.

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"We fully protect the national interest.

This derogation was given, not because of a private company, but so that Bulgaria could produce petroleum products and satisfy the domestic market.

And what we are doing is to keep this refinery open so that we have oil products at lower prices, that those who work in it have jobs and that there is a social balance", he responded to accusations that the interests of a private Russian are being protected company, not Bulgaria.

"The problem is that we cannot supply oil from everywhere.

The problem is that if we take control and nationalize the enterprise - we have no guarantee that the Russian side will continue to provide oil.

The idea is that "Lukoil" works, produces cheap fuels and pays its taxes, and we use these excess profits that we collect to support the industry and consumers", he is categorical.

"The government's goal is to make fuel affordable, but parliament decides whether there should be discounts."

There should be a socially just program, but it is very difficult to do it", the energy minister pointed out.

Rosen Hristov

Lukoil