Fri, Feb 10 2012
Russian oil heavyweight Lukoil may trim planned investments for 2009 and postpone by a year or two the construction of a waste treatment plant at its Bourgas refinery on the Black Sea if oil prices dropped to $45 a barrel, the company's president Vagit Alekperov said, as quoted by Interfax news agency.
Lukoil Neftochim, the refining arm of the Russian company's subsidiary in Bulgaria, declined to comment on the statement.
The oil giant will cut investments to $7.5-9 billion, from this year's $15 billion, which included $4 billion on acquisitions, and that is if oil prices stay high in the optimistic scenario. Lukoil has drafted three investment scenarios, which are based on different commodity prices in 2009.
Lukoil plans to back its Bulgarian operations by over $1 billion by the year 2011, earmarking 10 per cent of that figure on environmental protection equipment.
Source: Dnevnik
The deal is worth US $725 million and it is expected to be finalised until the end of 2009
Environment Minister Djevdet Chakurov claims it's unrealistic to expect that all projects will be completed by the deadline of July 2009 in accordance with the initial agreement with the European Union.
Construction work will end by May 30 and will be followed by 30 days of testing before the plant can begin operations, city hall official says
In the fourth quarter of 2011, the average monthly salary increased to 727 leva, 4.9 per cent higher than in Q3, the National Statistics Institute says.
For the first time in six months, global food prices rose overall in January 2012, the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation said.
The package will be discussed with the Association of Bulgarian Banks before the amendments are submitted to Parliament.
Debate at the half-day event will cover what has been achieved so far and what further can be done by the Bulgarian Government to support development of the market.
Selectivity, not popularity, is the driving force behind Sofia's most exclusive members' only club.

Lyubov Kostova was appointed country manager of British Council Bulgaria effective January 1, replacing Tony Buckby, who left in October 2011 to take a similar position at British Council Greece. Kostova has been with British Council Bulgaria for 11 years, as public communications manager and, since 2008, as the head of project and partnerships department. Prior to joining the British Council, Kostova was head of international activities at the National Academy for Theatre and Cinema Arts (NATFIZ). She has a degree in Indian studies from Kliment Ohridski Sofia University.

Stefan Apostolov is the new chief executive of CEZ Razpredelenie Bulgaria, the power transmission subsidiary of Czech energy company CEZ in the country. He replaces interim chief executive Ales Damm, who remains the chairperson of the CEZ Razpredelenie management board. Apostolov has 30 years of experience in the energy sector, joining CEZ in 2007 as director of customer service and was later appointed as head of business development. Apostolov has a master's degree in electric systems from the Belorussian National Technical University in Minsc, management diplomas from Open University London and New Bulgarian University, as well as a master's degree in business administration from Plovdiv University.

Valentina Dikanska is the new general manager of chemical industry giant BASF subsidiary in Bulgaria, taking over from Herbert Fisch, BASF vice president for Southeastern Europe. Dikanska, who started her career as an expert in the Finance Ministry, joined BASF Bulgaria as director of finance and administration in 2002. She becomes the first Bulgarian to hold the top management position in the company in its 40-year history on the Bulgarian market. Dikanska holds a master's degree in economics from the University for National and World Economy in Sofia.

Alexander Albin has been appointed chief executive of fuel distributor Rompetrol Bulgaria, replacing Nichita Sorin, who left to become chief executive of Rompetrol Gaz in Romania. Albin was previously chief executive of Rompetrol Georgia. He has more than 15 years of experience in the oil and gas industry; prior to joining Romania's oil group Rompetrol in 2008 as an adviser, he oversaw operations at Atyrau refinery in Kazakhstan, owned by Rompetrol's parent company KazMunaiGaz. He previously held top management positions at two other leading Kazakh oil and gas companies.