Bulgaria is preparing to take control of the Lukoil refinery in Burgas and sell it to a new owner, after the inclusion of the Russian oil company on the list of American sanctions.

Burgas Refinery, the only one in Bulgaria and part of the Russian company Lukoil, is in danger of closure due to sanctions imposed by the United States and the United Kingdom on the largest oil companies in Russia, Lukoil and Rosneft, as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. According to the Bulgarian publication Mediapool, legislation is being worked on that would allow for the confiscation of assets. Recently, Lukoil announced that it received a purchase offer from Gunvor Group Ltd. for Lukoil International GmbH, the subsidiary that holds the company's foreign assets. This sale represents a significant reaction of a Russian company to Western sanctions, and Lukoil has accepted the offer, committing not to negotiate with other potential buyers.