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Fuel oil cleanup in Krasnodar Region could take up to 10 years — scientist

Sergey Bolotin noted that the situation is complicated by waves and cold water temperatures, which prevent the formation of a petroleum film on the surface

KRASNODAR, December 19. /TASS/. The fuel oil that settled on the seabed after the tanker incident near the Kerch Strait will eventually be broken down by naturally occurring bacteria in the ecosystem, according to Sergey Bolotin, head of the Department of Geoecology and Nature Management at Kuban State University.

Bolotin added that while full remediation could take several years, it is unlikely to exceed ten years.

"Fuel oil can remain buried for a very long time, but every ecosystem contains living organisms and bacteria that feed on hydrocarbons. Over time, it will be degraded, which could take several years, but no more than ten," Bolotin explained.

He noted that the situation is complicated by waves and cold water temperatures, which prevent the formation of a petroleum film on the surface. Once the waves subside and specialists can deploy booms to contain the spread of oil products, the water surface can be treated with a sorbent, potentially reducing the cleanup process to just a few hours.

"The process itself is very quick, taking just a few hours. It all depends on the sorbent coming into contact with the fuel oil," the source explained. "If the fuel oil has already sunk to the bottom, the sorbent is unlikely to reach it. However, if it remains on the surface, the clean up becomes much easier."

The Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 tankers collided on December 15. One sailor died and the rest were evacuated. According to the rescuers, the tankers were carrying about 9,200 tons of fuel oil. The Federal Agency for Sea and Inland Water Transport reported that an oil spill had occurred in the Black Sea as a result of the accident. Satellite monitoring data indicated that a total of 3,000 tons of fuel oil leaked.

Problems with broadcasts seen in Telegram

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Italian couple appeals to Putin for Russian citizenship — TV

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Accident in Russia’s Murmansk Region leaves 1 person dead, 17 injured — official

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Medvedev takes The Times to task over story saying Kirillov murder 'legitimate act'

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Ukraine loses most of its forces while trying to break out of encirclement near Kurakhovo

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Putin challenges West to try to intercept Oreshnik missile in Kiev

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Erdogan calls for preventing Syria from turning into hotbed of terrorism

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Ukrainian army’s losses exceed 41,660 troops: Situation in Russia’s Kursk Region

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US actually turned into conflict participant after strikes against Russia

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UN General Assembly adopts Russian-backed resolution on fight against neo-Nazism

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Two dead, 27 injured after collision of trains near Russia’s northern city of Murmansk

One passenger died on the way to the hospital

Kiev deploying reserve troops toward Kremennaya in Lugansk region — military expert

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European nations discussing deployment of up to 100,000 troops to Ukraine — agency

The sources also point out that "the debate so far revealed confusion over whether a future European mission would undertake a traditional peacekeeping role, such as monitoring a ceasefire line, or provide a robust deterrent against" Russia