Bulgarian parliament approves limited power for Lukoil refinery's special manager

SOFIA, June 4 (Reuters) - The Bulgarian parliament approved on Thursday legislation limiting the powers of a new special manager overseeing Lukoil's operations in the country, local media reported.

Russia's Lukoil is one of the largest motor fuel retailers in Bulgaria and runs the country's sole refinery, Burgas.

• The amendments to the legislation were introduced by the ruling party of Prime Minister Rumen Radev who came into office after winning an April 19 parliamentary election.

• The party said they were aimed at restoring judicial and government oversight of the manager's actions, including those related to ownership changes.

• Economy Minister Alexander Pulev announced on Wednesday the appointment of a new special commercial manager for Lukoil in Bulgaria, replacing the previous manager who was appointed last November. Pulev said in a statement that the previous manager was replaced for "complex reasons".

• The changes to the legislation come after the Trump administration extended a sanctions waiver in April allowing Lukoil's service stations in the country to operate until late October.

(Reporting by Alex Lefkowitz; Writing by Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)