site.btaOld Sludge Pits at Former Plama Oil Refinery Catch Fire

Old sludge pits at the former Plama oil refinery have caught fire, with the smoke cloud visible from Pleven. The town's residents have 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. Four fire engines were dispatched to the scene. There is no danger to nearby settlements or residents, said Commissioner Stanislav Atanasov, head of the Regional Directorate of Fire Safety and Civil Protection in Pleven.

He said the site had been neglected and unused for years. The affected area measures approximately 50 by 100 metres, based on initial reports from firefighters. There is no risk of the fire spreading further.

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