Borisov says Lukoil’s new commercial manager to be named next week

The identity of the special commercial manager for the Lukoil refinery, a position granting authority to make decisions without the owner’s consent, is expected to be revealed early next week, according to GERB leader Boyko Borisov. One reported candidate, Ivo Petrov, has publicly denied being offered the role, while another potential candidate, former Economy Minister Petko Nikolov, could not be reached for confirmation.

Borisov also claimed that two banks are seeking to preemptively terminate their relationships with Lukoil gas stations ahead of impending U.S. sanctions, a move he stated could cause payment disruptions. He indicated he had asked for discussions with these financial institutions to prevent such an outcome before the November deadline.

The Association of Banks in Bulgaria did not confirm these claims, stating that each member bank operates independently and makes decisions based on its own policies and the legal framework. Neither Lukoil nor the Ministry of Finance provided comments on the alleged bank requests or the timing of related meetings.