Iran has offered to build a crude oil refinery near Bulgaria's city of Varna, on the Black Sea coast, The Sofia Echo Daily reported on Tuesday with reference to Bulgarian news agency BTA.
During a meeting between Iran's ambassador to Bulgaria, Gholamreza Bagheri Moghadam, and Varna's governor Dancho Simeonov, the diplomat said that his country was willing to build the refinery on its own, through a partnership or a contract.
"We are ready to implement this project in a way that favours Bulgaria," the ambassador said.
The ambassador said that Iran had significant experience in the oil processing industry. The country currently has 10 refineries and more facilities are in the pipeline.
Iran ranks second in terms of crude oil reserves globally and is the second-biggest oil exporter among OPEC members, the ambassador said.
In turn, Simeonov said he would notify the Government about his talks with Iran's delegation and the proposed refinery construction.
Earlier on September 20, Simeonov and Vahid Jalalzadeh, governor of the West Azerbaijan Province in Iran, signed a memorandum of co-operation between the two regions. The Iranian province is keen to collaborate with Varna on transit, tourism, economy, exports of fruit juices and concentrates. The parties also discussed a potential launch of a bus service between Varna and West Azerbaijan's capital in the future.