City Overview

Burgas is the fourth largest city in Bulgaria, with a population just

over 200 thousand. Located in the country’s south-eastern part, it is an important Black Sea

port.

The city is surrounded by three brackish-

water lakes, two of which are Ramsar

sites and important bird

habitats.

Burgas is the center of

Bulgaria’s most important tourist area – the South Black Sea Coast.

Burgas is one of the few Bulgarian

cities that increases its population

according to the 2011 census

PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS Automobile traffic (and in a way the public transport) is the main cause of air pollution in the Burgas region. It is responsible for almost 80 to 90% of the nitrous oxide pollution in the city, as well as an important source of carbon oxides emissions and fine dust particles under 10 μm in diameter (FDP-10).

The obvious suggestions to cope with the automobile problem is to employ more efficient and “green” forms of public transport (hybrid or electric buses, trams etc.), stimulation of bike and pedestrian activity through the construction of bikeways, pedestrian zones, etc.

The biggest oil refinery in Southeastern Europe – Lukoil Neftochim JSC is located on the outskirts of the city. Privatized in 1999, it is to blame for various types of pollution – mainly sulphur oxides, but also FDP-10 and hydrogen sulphide among others. It was until soon a major contaminator of the nearby Lake Vaya waters – fortunately, this has ceased and the lake’s ecosystem is slowly recovering..

The company needs to be refitted with a more efficient filtering system for toxic exhaust gases, especially for sulphur compounds. It should be renewed every few years with the latest technologies to ensure as little dangerous exhaust is produced. Also compensations should be paid to people living in the affected area.

Kronoshpan JSC is a company, specializing in wood processing. It is located just outside one of the city’s largest residential areas – Slaveykov quarter. It is notorious for the outrageous amount of FDP-10 (186 tonnes yearly) and benzene (70 tonnes yearly) it gives off as a result of its production.

A reform in the company’s production technology is urgent. It has to considerably lower the amount of dangerous output. It is already investing in filtering technologies but as there is no considerable effect on the pollution, this seems more like money laundering and “greenwashing”. Also compensations should be paid to people affected.

The Port of Burgas is home to the country’s only oil terminal in relation to the refinery located in the city, The toxic substances shipped into this port create a huge risk for an oil soill. Major incidents have not yet been observed, but considering Black Sea is an inland sea with a very narrow outlet to the World Ocean, one such will have catastrophic consequences.

Careful monitoring of the water indications at any given moment and an early alert system in case an incident happens. Also adequate equips to clean up the contamination before there are serious consequences on the environment.

Maps of Burgas showing highest

concentrations of:

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50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

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