US Extends Authorization for Lukoil's Foreign Gas Station Operations Until April 2027

The US Department of the Treasury has extended general licenses authorizing operations with foreign petrol stations of Russia's Lukoil and a number of its subsidiaries in Bulgaria until April 24, 2027. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to data from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the US Treasury. The previous authorization for the company's gas station network operations outside Russia was valid until October 29, 2026.

What the New Authorization Specifically Covers

The extended general license applies to operations with Lukoil's gas station network located outside Russia, as well as the company's Bulgarian structures. The list of authorized entities includes Lukoil Neftohim Burgas, Lukoil Bulgaria, Lukoil Aviation Bulgaria, and Lukoil Bulgaria Bunker. Thus, US and other foreign counterparties receive a legal basis to continue commercial interaction with these assets for another year and a half, which reduces the risk of a forced cessation of fuel supplies and related services in the respective markets.

Chronology: From Sanctions to a Series of Extensions

Sanctions against Lukoil were imposed by the US on October 22, 2025. Following this, the Russian company put its foreign business up for sale. To execute the transaction, OFAC issued a separate license, the validity of which was subsequently extended multiple times. In April 2026, US authorities already extended the sanctions exemptions regarding Lukoil, setting the authorization deadline to October 22, 2026. The current extension of general licenses for gas stations until April 24, 2027, has become the next stage in this sequence, allowing the operational continuity of the company's foreign assets to be maintained during the transition period.

Context: Sale of Foreign Business and the Role of Licenses

Putting Lukoil's foreign business up for sale was a direct consequence of the introduction of sanctions. OFAC licenses in this case act as a "bridge" ensuring the legal functioning of assets and their potential transfer to a new owner without violating US restrictive measures. The repeated extensions of deadlines—from October 2025 through April 2026 to the current April 2027—indicate that the process of selling or restructuring the company's foreign assets remains unfinished and requires additional time from Washington.

Significance for the Energy Market and Counterparties

For Bulgarian and other foreign structures of Lukoil, the license extension means maintaining access to international settlements, fuel supplies, and logistical chains. For counterparties—primarily European companies operating in the petroleum products segment—this reduces regulatory risks and allows for the planning of long-term contracts. At the same time, the very fact that regular license extensions are necessary confirms that the basic sanctions restrictions against Lukoil remain in force, and the exemptions are targeted and temporary in nature.