Ministers of Tourism and Environment and Water at emergency meeting over Black Sea oil spill speculation
The oil spill in the Black Sea will not reach the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. This became clear on Friday late in the evening at the extraordinary meeting between the Ministers of Tourism Miroslav Borshosh and Environment and Water Manol Genov. The two met urgently to discuss the situation and the potential risks for the Bulgarian coast.
Media publications, according to which oil pollution has been spreading westwards in the Kerch area since December 2024, became the reason for the extraordinary interdepartmental meeting.
From the analysis of the actual satellite images requested that evening from the Naval School, provided by Prof. Miroslav Tsvetkov, it is clear that the pollution will not be oriented to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.
The Minister of Environment and Water Manol Genov is adamant that there is no danger of pollution of the Bulgarian water area in the Black Sea after the accident with two Russian tankers on December 15, 2024. His words are confirmed by the simulations made using Copernicus Programme sea current data for the period from 19.12.2024 to 21.01.2025 inclusive, and by the immediately requested expert assessment that:
"...even if, hypothetically, the pollution has not sunk but, on the contrary, has increased and continues to develop, its movement and spread will be oriented to the south, in the direction of the coast of the Republic of Turkey, and part of it will swirl in the waters of the city of Novorossiysk."
In the meantime, the spill route is subject to daily monitoring not only in Bulgaria, but also in Russia, Romania, Turkey and Ukraine, where the data confirms our own. "Continuous communication is taking place between the concerned agencies in these countries to ensure the safety of the citizens," Minister Manol Genov said, adding that the situation in the Black Sea remains under surveillance.
"Such malicious allegations worry the tourism industry - something we will not tolerate. We have made and will continue to make every effort to maintain Bulgaria's status as a safe and secure destination. That is why we are doing everything necessary in an operational order to nip in the bud any speculations related to a potential threat to the life and health of Bulgarian and foreign citizens on our Black Sea coast," Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh said.