site.btaNo Health Risk After Plama Pleven Refinery Fire

Authorities have confirmed that there is no health risk for residents of Pleven or nearby areas following a fire at the former Plama oil refinery on Saturday night. The fire has been fully extinguished, Regional Governor Martin Machev told BTA.

Old sludge pits at the former refinery caught fire, with the smoke cloud visible from Pleven on Saturday when local people flooded social media with photos, expressing concern over the thick black smoke. The blaze started in dry grass before spreading. The fire reached the long-abandoned sludge pits, where waste petroleum products had been dumped during the refinery's operation.

On Sunday, air quality measurements show that fine particulate levels (PM10) spiked briefly due to soot and ash from the fire but are now declining steadily and remain within safe limits at 35 micrograms, compared to a 10-hour standard of 100 micrograms. The final air quality assessment is expected at midnight. The 24-hour average limit for fine particles is 50 micrograms.

Nitrogen oxide levels were slightly elevated but stayed below the permissible levels. Officials continue to monitor the situation.

The refinery, privatized in 1996, filed for bankruptcy in 1998.