Now, the government has asked Washington how it should go about requesting an extension to the sanctions beyond their start date of Nov. 21, according to the people, who were briefed on the matter and granted anonymity to speak freely on sensitive matters.
The government is concerned the sanctions could force the refinery to stop working as banks pull back from the facility, the people said, prompting widespread fuel shortages and protests.
Sofia argues that could precipitate the government’s collapse, the people said, bolstering support for Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, a figure seen by some as pro-Russian who has publicly floated the idea of creating a new political party.
The Bulgarian energy ministry declined to comment. Bulgaria’s presidency didn’t immediately respond to questions from POLITICO.
Julian Popov, a former Bulgarian environment minister and senior fellow at the Strategic Perspectives think tank, agreed the government is “not properly prepared” and has “no contingency plan” for Lukoil’s exit, making fuel shortages likely unless a solution is found.
He argued the government should now move to take operational control over the refinery, backed by an “international committee” of global lawyers and experts that can help Sofia manage the strategic facility.