PJSC LUKOIL started operating in Bulgaria on October 12, 1999, by becoming the holder of a controlling interest in Neftoсhim AD, the largest-capacity refinery on the Balkan Peninsula. In penetrating new business areas and upgrading its production facilities, PJSC LUKOIL invested over 3 bln USD in the Bulgarian economy.
Its largest refinery upgrading investment project was completed between 2012 and 2015. The Company made substantial investments in the construction of a Heavy Residue Process Complex, thus boosting competitiveness of Bulgaria's largest refinery. It was later to become the largest investment project of the Bulgarian economy in the last 10 years.
LUKOIL's gas station network is one of the leaders of the Bulgarian fuel market. According to the 2014 QUDAL — QUalityMeDAL, a well-regarded international consumer opinion survey, consumers chose the LUKOIL network as the best network in terms of the quality of offered products and services.
Since 2011, PJSC LUKOIL has been investing in Bulgaria's renewable power generation. The photovoltaic power plant (PPP) in the vicinity of Bulgarian Burgas was the Company's first alternative energy project.
LUKOIL Group's companies currently play leading roles in the Bulgarian economy, i.e. the Company is the ultimate leader at the head of Bulgaria TOP 100 and the "Largest Company by Sales Revenue". LUKOIL Group companies are up high on
TOP 500 biggest businesses of Central and Eastern Europe and tend to maintain their leading positions.
Company Presence
| Subsidiary | Activities |
|---|---|
| LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas AD |  Oil refining, petrochemistry |
| LUKOIL ENERGY AND GAS BULGARIA EOOD |  Power Engineering |
| LUKOIL-BULGARIA BUNKER EOOD |  Marketing |
| LUKOIL Aviation Bulgaria EOOD |  Marketing |
| LUKOIL-BULGARIA EOOD | Marketing |
PJSC LUKOIL acquired a controlling stake in Neftokhim AD, a Burgas-based refinery.
In recognition of its retail network development effort, the Company was awarded the Investor of the Year prize.
For its contribution to the development of Bulgarian economy, the Company was awarded the Golden Wallet Grand Prize.
For his contribution to the promotion of bilateral relations, Company’s President Vagit Alekperov was awarded the order of Madara Rider.
Hydrotreatment Unit 3 was redesigned in accordance with the Haldor Topsoe specifications, which brought the sulfur content in diesel fuel down, enabled the output of high-quality Euro-5-compliant diesel and reduced the refinery’s power consumption by 30 percent.
The Company was awarded the title “Corporate Citizen of 2010” bestowed in the contest held by the Pari newspaper and the international audit firm Deloitte Bulgaria.
A Rosenets port terminal concession agreement was signed for 35 years. The granted concession enabled investments in the terminal’s infrastructure, leading to a 30 percent boost in its turnover, an improved HSE performance due to the upgrade of the fire suppression and fire alarm systems, and the construction of an evaporative hydrocarbons emission system.
A Heavy Residue Processing Complex contract was signed in Sofia. The first foundation stone was laid in May 2012.
LUKOIL held a ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of gasoline production in Bulgaria.
LUKOIL was awarded the Corporate Benefector of Burgas for its contribution to the promotion of charity and encouragement of charity projects in society. The award is bestowed by the non-governmental charitable foundation of the Burgas Oblast and the Burgas municipality.
The Company celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Bulgarian Petrochemistry Syndicate LUKOIL, member of the International Association of Trade Union Organizations /IATUO/ of PJSC LUKOIL.
The Bulgarian government awarded LUKOIL a Class A Investor Certificate, for its investment project “Construction of the Heavy Residue Processing Complex — second stage” and Upgrading of the Rosenets Oil Terminal.
PJSC LUKOIL’s President Vagit Alekperov and Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borisov attended the opening ceremony for the Heavy Residue Processing Complex built on the premises of LUKOIL Neftochim Burgas AD.
LUKOIL-Bulgaria was the first Bulgarian oil company to defend four certificates of conformity with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, BS OHSAS 18001 and ISO 50001 standards, issued by Bureau Veritas.
Environmental protection has always been among the key priorities pursued by LUKOIL Group's companies in their operations. The Company is particularly concerned about the preservation of Bulgaria's rich natural diversity and its vast recreational and tourist potential.
Landscaping and tree planting have become a regular events. Since 2012, the Company has been supporting the Bicycle City project launched by the Burgas administration and designed to create a convenient bicycle infrastructure. The project has helped the Company to reduce its CO2 emissions and promote a healthy lifestyle.
In addition, the Company has continuously invested in production facility upgrading, seeking to improve its energy efficiency and reduce its environmental footprint. The refinery has successfully completed the following projects:
The construction of a new cutting-edge Claus Unit (Gaseous Sulphur — 3), enabling the full recovery of hydrogen sulfide released in the production process.
A massive upgrade of one of the AVD-1 vacuum oil refining units, bringing it in line with the most state-of-the-art global technologies, boosting primary distillation performance and reducing power costs (power consumption went down 20 percent).
The construction and successful commissioning of a new waste gas flare stack, that enabled smokeless and safe flaring of emissions and mitigated the impact on air in the adjacent populated centers.
The construction of a new Sulfur Recycle Unit — 4, designed to produce high-quality and environmentally benign products (sulfur), which made it possible to cut back on harmful emissions bringing them down to the lowest levels ever achieved in the European refining industry.
The construction of cutting-edge flue gas scrubbing systems of refuse incineration furnaces helped reduce the annual emissions of SOx 3.5 times, those of NOx 2.3 times and those of dust 1.5 times. Installation of new equipment at the catalytic cracker brought about a more than tenfold reduction in catalyst fines emissions.
LUKOIL has a 15-years-plus history of investments in social and charity projects in Bulgaria, designed to develop amenity infrastructure and improve the quality of living in the country.
LUKOIL has traditionally supported children's and healthcare institutions. LUKOIL assisted in the reconstruction and upgrading of six kindergartens and six schools in the communities of Burgas and Kameno, and built three playgrounds and five sports fields in the region.
The Company provided financial backing to the Bulgarian Christmas initiative launched jointly with the Bulgarian President's Foundation and Bulgarian National TV: this large-scale fundraiser helped purchase modern equipment required to provide high-quality specialized treatment to kids, that was previously unavailable in Bulgaria.
Seeking to promote sports and a healthy lifestyle, the Company financed the construction of the Bike Park and Bicycle City – Modern Urban Mobility Model, as well as the design of a Horseback Riding Camp in Burgas and other sports projects. The Company has traditionally supported athletes, i.e. the 13-times basketball champion of Bulgaria, the "Neftekhimik 2010" women's basketball club, the "Neftekhimik 2010" valleyball club, basketball, volleyball and soccer youth athletic centers in the country's different regions. To promote mass and professional sports, the Nefekhimik gym was donated to the city of Burgas.
Seeking to preserve Bulgaria's cultural and spiritual heritage and build on the country's tourist potential, the Company has sponsored the reconstruction of St. Anastasia Island, Sofia Metochion of the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, restoration of the central Cyril and Methodius Church in Burgas, Bulgarian Artists Union, Poda Nature Conservation Center, Vaya Ecozone, archaeological excavations in the Aqua Kalide — Termopolis site and other cultural and historic sites. LUKOIL, jointly with the Balkan Athos Association, donated a part of St. George's relics to the Burgas parish. In 2012, the Company backed up a large-scale project entitled "Days of the Bulgarian Culture in Russia".
