The Bulgarian government has imposed high taxes on the operations of Russian energy companies. The main goal of this measure is to force Gazprom and Lukoil to leave the European market, making their business much less profitable.
Source. This was reported by the Financial Times with reference to representatives of the Bulgarian government.
"Gazprom stopped supplying gas to Bulgaria shortly after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine: at the time, Russia demanded that EU countries switch to a "ruble" payment scheme, but most refused to do so.
Nevertheless, transit supplies to Hungary and Serbia through Bulgaria continue. Now the government, which was formed in May, has taken a clear course to strengthen ties with the EU, introducing a tax of 10 euros/MWh on Russian gas transit.
"Although we no longer consume Russian gas, we are actually helping Europe to continue consuming it. The main task is to make the supplies a little less profitable for Gazprom and force Serbia and Hungary to look for gas elsewhere," a person familiar with the government's decision told the FT.
Hungary buys about 4.5 billion cubic meters a year from Russia, more than 80% of its gas import needs. Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó called the Bulgarian tax "unacceptable" and aimed at undermining Hungary's energy security and its cooperation with Russia. After all, thanks to this cooperation, the country is well prepared for the new winter season, Szijjarto said in early October. He also complained that the European Union requires Hungary not to buy Russian gas, but does not help it diversify its supplies.
The tax will reduce Gazprom's transit profits, but will not make gas more expensive for Hungarian and Serbian consumers, Bulgarian Finance Minister Asen Vasilev argued, as most Gazprom contracts fix the price at the border of the country receiving the fuel. "The tax is fully in line with the EU's goals to reduce the union's dependence on Russian fossil fuels," Vasilev said.
Sofia also wants to get rid of Lukoil, which owns the largest oil refinery on the Balkan Peninsula, the Naftochim refinery on the Black Sea in Burgas. It receives Russian oil from Novorossiysk. Bulgaria remains the only EU country to which Russian oil is shipped by sea (in September, deliveries amounted to about 183,000 barrels per day).