Bulgaria lifts export ban on diesel and aviation fuel

Bulgaria's National Assembly has lifted a temporary ban on the export and domestic supply of petroleum products, primarily diesel and aviation fuel. The decision, proposed by the Council of Ministers, follows reports that Lukoil Neftohim Burgas held approximately 50,000 tons of diesel in excess of domestic market needs as of early September.

Former Energy Minister Aleksandar Nikolov stated that the removal of the export restriction does not automatically guarantee lower or higher fuel prices at the pump. He noted that while the ban limited the refinery's ability to process larger volumes—thereby affecting national tax revenues—the state must implement mechanisms to ensure that increased export profits benefit Bulgarian consumers. Nikolov suggested that a portion of the additional margins from international sales could be used to reduce wholesale prices within the country. He emphasized that domestic supply must remain the top priority regardless of the resumption of exports.