OIL DISTRIBUTION IN BULGARIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001400390004-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 4, 2009
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: June 5, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001400390004-0
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Oil Distribution in Bulgaria
REPORT
DATE DISTR.?
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
5 June 1953
Marketing Organization
1d PETROL, the Bulgarian government oilmarketing organization., has its headquarters
in Sofia and branches in all dist:ct.:centers. The organization is subor_date-.to
the oil department of the Ministry of Commerce. It is headed by an administrative
manager and a technical manager, who are assisted by managers of departments for
.lubricating oil, for all other petroleum products., for cadres, for control., and
for accounts.
2. PETROL was the name of the marketing organization when it was established in 1932
as a Joint project'of Standard oil., Shell., the Rumanian Nafta,ti and the Bulgarian
Socombel oil companies. When the government took over its assets .,and.':`' as.(l
nationalized the company in 1948, its title was retained. Since 1911.8, negotiations
concerning compensation have been in progress between the new government organiza-
tion and representatives of the old company., but so far no results have been
accomplished.
3. Apart from sons special lubricating oils imported from the USSR, most petroleum
products are obtained from Rumania. The following types of petroleum products
are imported; automoble gasoline weighing 735 to 140 grams per liter at 50
degrees., a lighter gasoline for industrial (rubber) and laboratory use, lamp oil,
solar ail, lubricating oil,, solid and liquid paraffin., and crude asphalt.
Storage Facilities and Retail Depots
Sofia has the following main storage facilitiesI
Fuel depot No0 1 at Nadezhda9 near Sofia, which has six steel tanks covered
with concrete, some with a capacity of 1009000 liters and some with a capa-
city of 50,000 liters- all were built by Standard Oil and other foreign
25 YEAR RE-REVIEW
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STATE X ARMY z INAVY X AIR
FBI AEC
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001400390004-0
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companies and are all above ground; concrete storage facilities for oil in
barrels are situated nearby; and
b. Fuel depot No. 2 at the Zakharna Fabrika (Sugar Factory) District has three
underground tanks, each holding 100,000 liters; two hold automobile gasoline
and the third holds solar oil; no lubricating oil is stored here; the tanks
were constructed in 1950 on the site of the former sugar factory.
Retail depots were established about January 1952. They are supplied from the two
wholesale depots and are equipped with a modern type of electric pump. These
depots are located as follows:
a. Two underground steel and concrete tanks near the main'railroad station of Sofia,
one of 10,000 liters for gasoline and the second of 5,000 liters for solar oil;
lubricating oil is stored in barrels above ground;
b. Two underground steel and concrete tanks at the Aleksandrovska Hospital Street
(sic), one of 10,000 liters for gasoline and one of 5,,000 liters for solar oil;
lubricating oil is stored in barrels above ground;
o. Two gasoline tanks in the old market known as Bit Pazar; and
d. "Two similar tanks, location unknot .
In addition,: there are the.following retail depots in the center of Sofia for
gasoline, solar oil, and lubricating oil:
a. Rakovska Street, 5,000 liters;
b. Isktzr Street, 5,000 liters;
C. Bratiya Miladinov Street, 5,000 liters;
d. Slaveykov Square, a depot for lubricating oil only; and
e. A: number of smaller depots, location not known.
7. Aviation gasoline is stored in underground tanks near Bozhtirishte (N l2-45,
E 23-11) and other airfields. No special storage facilities are provided-for
lamp oils which is supplied directly to the government stores.
8. Gasoline and solar storage tanks and storage facilities for lubricating oil are
also located in the following towns: Mezdra, Lom, Ruse, Burgas, Varna, Plovdiv,
.and Lorna Oryakhovitsa.
9. PETROL also owns a large number of 15 :,rid 20-ton tank cars. Most of the 20-ton
ears have partitions, enabling them to carry two types of fuel simultaneously.
10. The Sofia district branch of PETROL owns four tank cars, as follows:
a. One of 10,000 liters;
b. One of 5,000 liters;
c. One of 3,000 liters; and
d. One trailer-type of 15,000 liters.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001400390004-0
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001400390004-0
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Miscellaneous
U. Gasoline, solar oil, and lubricating oil are rationed in Bulgaria. A special
committee decides on the quantity to be allocated monthly to each automobile
and industrial enterprise, in accordance with the work done.- Rations for an
individual vehicle may range from 50 to 500 liters per month.
12. Since the currency reform, gasoline costs O.55 lava per liter.
13. Drilling for oil is in progress between Ruse and Gorna Oryakhovitsa, but none
has yet been found there.
the following personalities:
a. Taku Dimitrov, head of the Gasoline Solar and Kerosene De artment at the
PETROL head office
b. Meiersohn (fnu), head of the Lubricating Oil Department of the PETROL head
-
office,-
Comments The Sofia 1952 Telephone Directory lists retail depots as. 25X1
fo owst No. 4 Alabin-Street, No. 94 Rakovski-Street, No- 84 Dondukov Boulevard
,
No. 112 Boris I Streets No. 69 Gladston Street, No. 26 Iskur Street, No. 25
Mi. Oinovi Brothers Street, and No. 62 Samuil street.
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Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2009/11/04: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001400390004-0