“The price of non-Russian oil on world markets is chasing 100 dollars per barrel. The price at which European countries buy oil, according to the decision of the EC, has a ceiling of 60 dollars per barrel. When the raw material costs 40% more, how much will gasoline and diesel cost, after processing $100 worth of oil? Elementary. The price of BGN 2.60 per liter of gasoline/diesel will become about BGN 4. In neighboring countries, the price is the same,” commented expert Yavor Kuyumdzhiev.
He highlighted other influencing factors, such as increasing the cost of transport due to volume.
“Add to that the delay of ships waiting in queues to pass through the Bosphorus and the picture comes together,” the guest added.
Kuyumdzhiev told Bulgaria ON AIR whether our refinery can operate with non-Russian oil.
“I hope there will be people left who know what they are doing. There is an idea to appoint a special manager of the company. The management of such an installation is extremely complex. A team of people is required to ensure at least a rhythmicity of deliveries. It is a difficult balance of resources and people. There are risks,” explained the energy expert.
According to him, in one month, the management of the refinery must terminate contracts for the supply of Russian oil.
“There will be fuel. For a long time, other refineries in the surrounding area, as far as Austria, have been lurking and waiting for our refinery to collapse in order to take its market share. It makes a huge difference whether you make your own fuel or import it. Our country has no reserves, with which to influence the market”, emphasized Kuyumdzhiev.
According to the expert, today’s price of electricity on the free market, on which the EPPs must start buying electricity from January 1, is BGN 218 per megawatt hour, or nearly 22 cents per kilowatt hour.
“The regulated price at which the ERPs must sell to us is 14 cents per kilowatt hour. Today, the difference is 8 cents. Who will compensate these 8 cents to the ERPs?” asked the guest.
Kuyumdzhiev also commented on the problem of liberalization. “The problem is that incomes are low. When your average salary is BGN 2,000, it makes a huge difference whether you pay BGN 50 or BGN 100. Bulgaria currently has the third lowest cost of living in the entire EU. Developed markets will lead to normalization of the situation, but the lack of perspective makes it difficult for citizens. We are part of the common European structure,” explained Yavor Kuyumdzhiev.
