Deputy Prime Minister Poulev: Lifting the Ban on Diesel Exports Will Not Lead to Any Shortages on the Bulgarian Market

We Have Provided Additional Liquidity for Bulgarian Industry as a Short-Term Measure to Strengthen Competitiveness, He Emphasised

"Energy is the lifeblood of every industry and every economy. We are living in a time of unprecedented economic transformation, in which geopolitical developments are redrawing the global map of energy, the economy and industry." This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Investments and Industry Alexander Poulev during the international conference "CEE Energy Alliance Initiative", organised by the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association.

The forum was attended by the Minister of Energy, representatives of sectoral and employers' organisations, leading experts and industry representatives.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, geopolitical uncertainty, disruptions to supply chains and price pressures are directly affecting both households and businesses.

"Our Government faces the difficult task of finding local solutions to global problems, and we are doing so in a spirit of partnership and open dialogue with the industry and leading experts," Poulev emphasised.

He noted that, as a result of this dialogue, the Government has taken concrete measures to support various groups of the population and the Bulgarian economy.

"We listened to the business community, understood the needs of industry and lifted the ban on diesel exports without this leading to any shortages on the Bulgarian market. In this way, we provided additional liquidity not only for the Lukoil refinery but also for industry as a whole - as a short-term measure to strengthen competitiveness," the Deputy Prime Minister said.

Alexander Poulev also highlighted the need for long-term solutions to modernise infrastructure and attract private capital.

"We are in the final stages of developing a high-quality legislative framework for public-private partnerships. We face the enormous challenge of finding the necessary resources and mobilising private capital, combined with the intelligent use of European funds, to undertake comprehensive modernisation of the country's infrastructure," he noted.

According to him, public-private partnerships can have a wide range of applications - from the development of industrial zones and road infrastructure to improving transport and energy connectivity.

Deputy Prime Minister Poulev also emphasised the importance of Bulgaria's stronger integration into European policies and of deepening partnerships with Central and Eastern European countries.

"Bulgaria must not be on the periphery of the European Union. Bulgaria must be at its heart, strongly integrated into all European policies, particularly when it comes to energy connectivity," he said.

In his view, this can be achieved through better connectivity, increased investment, including through public-private partnerships in cross-border infrastructure, and greater diversification of supplies.

"We support the green transition and all green policies, but they must be implemented in a way that does not further undermine Europe's competitiveness. They must not lead to additional price pressures but should take into account the needs of individual countries," Poulev said.

The Deputy Prime Minister stressed that Bulgaria has the opportunity to strengthen its role in the region and more effectively defend the interests of industry and consumers within the European Union.

"I am convinced that here, in this format and through this coordinated approach, Bulgaria, together with our partners from Central and Eastern Europe, will have an even stronger voice. We will firmly defend the needs of industry and consumers," Alexander Poulev said.

He emphasised that partnership between institutions, businesses and industry organisations is key to finding effective solutions amid the global economic and energy transformation.

During the forum, the Sofia Declaration on Energy Security and Competitiveness in Central and Eastern Europe was signed. The document brings together representatives of energy organisations from Bulgaria, Greece, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Czechia and marks the launch of an informal regional alliance aimed at fostering more active dialogue with national and European institutions. The aim is to safeguard energy security, industrial competitiveness and affordable prices for consumers in the region through coordinated action.