Lukoil Macedonia said its operations remain unaffected by new U.S. and UK sanctions on Russian energy giants Rosneft and Lukoil, assuring customers that imports and retail fuel sales continue without disruption.
The company, North Macedonia’s third-largest fuel importer after OKTA and Supertrade, and the second-largest retailer after Makpetrol, said it is consulting with major law firms to assess the implications of the measures but continues business as usual.
“Lukoil Macedonia LLC Skopje informs that it operates normally. All commercial communication, procurement, transportation, and payments in wholesale and retail are proceeding as usual, without any restrictions,” the company said in a statement to Faktor.mk.
It added that the company remains committed to “compliance with national and international regulations” and to maintaining open communication with business partners.
“With the dedication of our management and employees, Lukoil Macedonia will continue to operate diligently to overcome any potential challenges,” the statement said.
The reassurance comes as Bulgaria faces pressure to clarify the future of its Lukoil Neftochim Burgas refinery, the largest in Southeast Europe, following Washington’s new sanctions targeting Moscow’s energy sector.
Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov said Sofia has one month to decide on the refinery’s status, noting that more than half of its ownership is held by Russia’s Lukoil, bringing it under the scope of the sanctions.
“The Burgas refinery is part of the Lukoil Russia system, which owns more than 50 percent of the Russian company. Therefore, it falls under the new restrictions,” Zhelyazkov said.
The U.S. sanctions, announced earlier this week, aim to limit the Kremlin’s energy revenues used to finance its war in Ukraine. Analysts say the measures could have ripple effects across the Balkans, where Russian crude still supplies several refineries and distribution networks.