The deadline for the installation of level gauging systems at filling stations' reservoirs will not be extended, with non-compliant sites facing a fine of BGN 10 000 and closure.

The announcement was made by Krasimir Stefanov, Director of the National Revenue Agency (NRA) in an interview for Thursday's morning broadcast of the Bulgarian National Television (BNT).

Last week it emerged that close to 2000 of the total of 3200 filling stations in the country had taken no steps to equip the sites with the mandatory devices and were therefore facing forced closure.

The owners of these sites explained that they could not afford an investment of BGN 15-20 000 and threatened to stage protests.

Stefanov, however, insisted that the installation of the new equipment would cost no more than BGN 10 000 for a big filling station, while smaller ones would have to pay less.

He explained that the introduction of level gauging devices, combined with the connection of filling stations' cash registers to the database of the revenue authorities, which became compulsory in the beginning of 2011, would bring 95% of fuel trade into the light.

The launch of the mandatory electronic connection between filling stations' cash registers and NRA's database increased fuel turnover by 30% to BGN 3 B, while VAT collection went up by BGN 100 M, the NRA Director stated.

Apart from that, the new requirement revealed a total of 732 fully operational sites which had previously been nonexistent to the revenue authorities because they had not reported any fuel sales.

The NRA remains positive that the introduction of mandatory level gauging systems at filling stations' reservoirs will enable the authorities to keep track of fuel movements from the stage of import, through tax warehouses and to retail sales.