Oil pollution along Ventspils coast now spans nearly 30 kilometers

Since last weekend, the Ventspils municipality has been working to clean up oil pollution along its coast that has now affected roughly 30 kilometers of shoreline. According to the municipality, the scale of the situation is such that it could be classified as a national-level environmental disaster.

The cleanup is being carried out by the Ventspils Municipal Utility together with PSIA "Ventspils Labiekārtošanas Kombināts" and other companies. Within the city itself, pollution was found along about five kilometers of coast, covering roughly five hectares, affecting both the central beach area and the Pārventa and Staldzene coastal zones. In the surrounding municipality, the affected strip runs about 25 kilometers.

The State Environmental Service, working with the State Fire and Rescue Service, has inspected the coast from Užava to Liepene and collected samples for further analysis, but the source and exact composition of the pollution have not yet been determined.

Initial cleanup began on Monday along the Blue Flag beach section, where crews are manually collecting oil product granules of various sizes as well as larger chunks using shovels, placing them in bags for disposal as hazardous waste. Work is more difficult on Staldzene beach, where pollution has stuck to pebbles, rocks and washed-up branches.

The municipality has urged residents and visitors not to walk along the shore anywhere on the Ventspils beach, has put up warning signs, and municipal police are patrolling the area more intensively.

The exact cost and timeline for completing the cleanup cannot yet be determined, as it depends on the actual extent of the pollution, the methods used, weather conditions, and the possibility of further pollution washing ashore. The municipality may require additional state support.

The situation at sea has also been checked by a National Armed Forces Naval patrol vessel and a drone, with the Navy awaiting further information from responsible institutions.