Deputy PM Ninova ordered inspections of all petrol stations and fuel retailers

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Industry, Kornelia Ninova, on March 4 instructed the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC) to inspect petrol stations across the country in connection with the artificially created panic over availability of fuel and fuel prices and to prevent speculative fuel price increases.

The Directorate for Regulation of Economic Activity at the Ministry of Economy and Industry has started inspections of individuals and companies engaged in wholesale trade of oil and products of petroleum origin, included in the Register of the Ministry of Economy. The inspections aim to check for possible violations of the registration regime.

"We will not allow anyone to make excess profits at the expense of the people. We have started checks through the CPC and the relevant directorate in the Ministry of Economy. We will use all legal mechanisms to protect consumers," Minister Ninova said.

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Rumours about a possible sharp increase in fuel prices and supply problems triggered large queues at petrol stations in Bulgaria on March 2. Queues formed at petrol stations in the capital city Sofia and several other cities and towns across the country.

Many motorists wanted to refuel their cars “fearing that fuel prices will rise sharply soon in view of the sharp rise in oil prices on world markets”.

Others feared that oil supplies may be disrupted as a result of the war on Ukraine, including in Bulgaria, which would lead to insufficient supplies at petrol stations.

Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, said later that there was an unfounded panic about fuel.

There was fuel and there was no chance that supplies would stop or run out, Petkov said.

“There is fuel everywhere, there is fuel available at petrol stations,” Prime Minister, Kiril Petkov, stated after a meeting with the Bulgarian Petroleum and Gas Association on March 4.

“We have fuel in large quantities, there is no problem throughout the supply chain. The only reason there was any panic on Wednesday was the appearance of a few photographs from small petrol stations as part of a political or hybrid attack by people connected with the youth organization of the opposition GERB party, creating a panic, without there being any reason for it,” PM Petkov said . “If we sense any such hybrid attack, political shaking of the system, we will have a coordinated answer and communication, so people will not succumb to all kinds of lies,” the Prime Minister said.

Watch what the government says and do not worry – there is fuel everywhere, stocks are available, imports are happening," Kiril Petkov addressed the citizens.

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