Sofia, February 8 (BTA) - There is no question about it: The State Oil Company is closing down, said the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Industry and Minister of Economy and Industry Korneliya Ninova on Tuesday while presenting the 2022 draft budget before the relevant parliamentary committee. She added that she will soon submit draft legislation regarding the company closure.

Ninova said that the question of storing the oil reserves is still open. "We are considering the companies which have the legal obligation to store the reserves. They can pay for that obligation, these reserves, in the form of funds, which the state can purchase and store. It would be the state's responsibility to guarantee that they are not dependent on private interests, on a particular company that may or may not be storing them." The Minister added that sometimes less strict control in this field suggests that not all parties are doing their duty of keeping stocks. She believes that the government must secure storage locations, and the relevant companies must pay for them. RY/NZ