site.btaTourism, Environment and Water Ministers Hold Emergency Meeting over Speculation over Black Sea Oil Spill

Tourism Minister Miroslav Borshosh and Environment and Water Minister Manol Genov met urgently on Friday evening to discuss the Black Sea oil spill situation and potential risks for Bulgaria, the Tourism Ministry reported, stressing that the spill will not reach the shores of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. 

Media reports that oil pollution has been spreading westward in the Kerch Strait since December 2024 prompted the emergency interdepartmental meeting.
An analysis of the current satellite images requested that evening by the Naval Academy, provided by Prof. Miroslav Tsvetkov, shows that the pollution will not be directed towards the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

Minister Genov was adamant that there is no danger of pollution of the Bulgarian waters in the Black Sea after the accident with two Russian tankers on December 15, 2024. His words are confirmed by simulations made using data on the sea currents by the Copernicus Program for the period between December 19, 2024 and January 21, 2025, as well as by the immediately requested expert assessment.

The expert assessment states that "even hypothetically, if the pollution had not sunk, but on the contrary, had increased and continued to develop, its movement and spread would be oriented south, towards the coasts of the Republic of Turkiye, and part of it would swirl in the waters of the city of Novorossiysk."

Meanwhile, the path of the spill is subject to daily monitoring not only in Bulgaria, but also in Russia, Romania, Turkiye and Ukraine, where the data confirm similar conclusions. "There is continuous communication between the relevant departments in these countries, which guarantees the safety of citizens," explained Minister Genov, adding that the situation in the Black Sea remains under observation.

Minister Borshosh added that "such malicious allegations are worrisome to the tourism industry" and noted that every effort is being made to ensure that Bulgaria maintains its status as a safe and secure destination. "Therefore, we are doing everything necessary to nip in the bud any speculation related to a potential threat to the life and health of Bulgarian and foreign citizens on our Black Sea coast," he added.