Romania and Bulgaria are rushing to prevent the closure of Lukoil refineries before the US sanctions, taking into account exemptions and nationalizations.

Romania and Bulgaria are in a race against time to prevent the closure of Lukoil refineries, which could severely impact fuel supply. The sanctions imposed by the U.S., which come into effect on November 21, have generated chaos in these countries, which depend on Russian refineries. Bulgaria has adopted a bill that allows the government to take control of the Burgas refinery, while Romania is considering requesting a waiver to extend the application deadline for the sanctions.

The Romanian Minister of Energy stated that Bucharest is prepared for any scenario, considering that the Petrotel refinery supplies about 20% of the country's fuel. The closure of the refineries could lead to price increases and affect exports to Moldova. Additionally, both countries are facing difficulties in finding new owners for the refineries due to legal risks and high costs associated with the sanctions.

Real issues could arise later, including challenges related to arbitration and the need for coordination of decisions at the European level to avoid circumventing the sanctions. Analysts emphasize that it is essential for Brussels to monitor potential buyers to prevent Russian influence in the energy sector.