Protest of small and medium-sized fuel traders

The protest started exactly at 11:00 a.m. on the Ring Road in Sofia, Bulgaria. The queue of tanker trucks was kilometric. Later the protestors headed for Botevgradsko Shosse Boulevard, Sofia.
“The controversial changes in trade of fuels will ruin the small businesses, and nearly 20,000 people may be out of work” the protestors commented.

Research shows that the small businesses in the fuel industry are about 420. The controversial draft law requires fuel traders to block large sums in the form of bank guarantees, as well as having a set up capital to keep them working. According to the small traders, this is extremely unfair to them because it puts them under the same denominator as the big players in the business. There is a real possibility this draft to raise the price of fuels, the participants in the protest added.

On the other hand, according to importers of fuel, the new rules will reduce the share of the gray sector, which accounts for nearly 30% of the market.
The protest actions will continue.