### Romania and Bulgaria Take Urgent Steps to Secure Energy Supplies Amid Looming U.S. Sanctions on Lukoil - As the U.S. prepares to impose sanctions on Russia's Lukoil, both Romania and Bulgaria are taking decisive actions to safeguard their energy sectors. Romania's Energy Minister, Bogdan Ivan, emphasized the necessity of taking control of Lukoil's local subsidiary to protect the national energy system and enforce international sanctions [https://kyivindependent.com/romania-moves-to-take-control-of-lukoil-assets-ahead-of-us-sanctions-deadline]. Meanwhile, Bulgaria is facing a critical situation with only one month of gasoline supplies left, as Lukoil owns the country's largest oil refinery and most of its storage and pipeline infrastructure [https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/bulgaria-has-one-month-of-gasoline-supplies-as-us-sanctions-loom-state-reserve-agency-says]. ### Overview of Actions Taken by Romania and Bulgaria 1. **Romania's Control Measures**: - Romania is moving to take control of Lukoil's local operations to ensure compliance with U.S. sanctions and protect its energy infrastructure [https://kyivindependent.com/romania-moves-to-take-control-of-lukoil-assets-ahead-of-us-sanctions-deadline]. 2. **Bulgaria's Nationalization Efforts**: - Bulgaria's Parliament has adopted legal changes to nationalize Lukoil's refinery, aiming to prevent a shutdown and maintain energy supply [https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/11/07/bulgaria-adopts-law-to-take-control-of-russias-lukoil-refinery-a91084]. - The country is also preparing a fuel backup plan as it braces for the impact of U.S. sanctions [https://energiesmedia.com/bulgaria-reviews-lukoil-owned-refinery-sanctions]. 3. **Impending Energy Crisis**: - Bulgaria's state reserves agency has warned that the country has only one month of gasoline supplies left, highlighting the urgency of the situation [https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/bulgaria-has-one-month-of-gasoline-supplies-as-us-sanctions-loom-state-reserve-agency-says]. ### Supporting Evidence and Data - **Romania**: - The Romanian government is prioritizing the control of Lukoil's assets to ensure energy security and compliance with international sanctions [https://kyivindependent.com/romania-moves-to-take-control-of-lukoil-assets-ahead-of-us-sanctions-deadline]. - **Bulgaria**: - The nationalization of Lukoil's refinery is a direct response to the impending sanctions, with the government acting swiftly to avert an energy crisis [https://www.notizie.it/en/la-bulgaria-nazionalizza-la-raffineria-lukoil-per-contrastare-le-sanzioni-statunitensi]. - The state reserves agency's report indicates a critical shortage of gasoline, emphasizing the need for immediate action [https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/bulgaria-has-one-month-of-gasoline-supplies-as-us-sanctions-loom-state-reserve-agency-says]. ### Conclusion: Urgent Measures to Mitigate Energy Risks 1. **Romania's Strategy**: - Romania is proactively taking control of Lukoil's assets to ensure energy security and compliance with sanctions, reflecting a strong governmental response to external pressures [https://kyivindependent.com/romania-moves-to-take-control-of-lukoil-assets-ahead-of-us-sanctions-deadline]. 2. **Bulgaria's Nationalization**: - Bulgaria's swift nationalization of the Lukoil refinery is a critical step to prevent an energy crisis, as the country faces a severe shortage of gasoline supplies [https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/11/07/bulgaria-adopts-law-to-take-control-of-russias-lukoil-refinery-a91084]. 3. **Regional Implications**: - Both countries' actions underscore the broader implications of U.S. sanctions on energy security in Eastern Europe, necessitating immediate and coordinated responses to safeguard national interests [https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/bulgaria-has-one-month-of-gasoline-supplies-as-us-sanctions-loom-state-reserve-agency-says].