Bulgarian Customs Agency Head Suggests Capping Lukoil's Stake in Public Procurement

Customs Agency head Vanyo Tanov has suggested that Lukoil's participation in public procurement should be capped at 33%. Photo by BGNES

Customs Agency head Vanyo Tanov has recommended the adoption of clear and exact rules and the prevention of monopolistic practices in public procurement as the right steps to ensure lower prices of fuels.

Following a meeting with Ivan Kostov, leader of the right-wing Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) in Parliament, Lukoil Bulgaria CEO Valentin Zlatev told journalists that he would propose a set of measures aimed at reducing "the unbearable" prices of fuels to the Economy Minister on Thursday.

Commenting on Zlatev's proposal, Tanov said that Lukoil's stake in public procurement had to be kept below 33%.

Speaking in a Thursday interview for the Bulgarian National Television (BNT), the Customs Agency Director insisted that the 33% ceiling would give other companies the opportunity to win public procurement contracts and to invest in their facilities.

Tanov claimed that the companies in the sector were unable to do this because they had no certainty in the future and at the same time they lacked a fuel warehouse.

"If this happens, then this monopoly will no longer exist, and the real competition between the companies will engage in real competition and will seek to seek to take over more market shares," he explained.

He emphasized that no cartel agreements or monopoly influences could exist amid functioning market mechanisms.

Tanov stressed the achievements of the customs authority, adding that coordination centers functioning "24 hours a day, 7 days a week" had been set up at all customs offices in a bid to curb smuggling.

He insisted that the current staff of the Customs Agency and the people applying for jobs at the institution were well-motivated and very competent.

Following a meeting with Ivan Kostov, leader of the right-wing Democrats for a Strong Bulgaria (DSB) in Parliament, Zlatev told journalists that he would propose a set of measures aimed at reducing "the unbearable" prices of fuels to the Economy Minister on Thursday.

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