Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition Marks Major Modernization of Polar Base
Jerusalem, 7 June, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Aheloy, on the Black Sea (BTA) – What started years ago as a single trailer has now grown into what can be called a Bulgarian town in Antarctica, said Kamen Nedkov, commander of the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island, speaking to participants at a reporting camp for the 34th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition, held in Aheloy on Saturday.
He noted that this year the reopening and preparation of the base began in mid-November. “We were greeted by a moderate amount of snow, and manual labour was once again in fashion,” Nedkov added with a smile. According to him, despite the challenges, everything had been prepared to welcome the scientists and sailors by the time the Bulgarian naval research vessel Sv. Sv. Kiril i Metodii arrived at the end of December.
“This year, in partnership with the United Arab Emirates, we built a new facility for housing a meteorological and seismic laboratory,” Nedkov said. He explained that equipment for the laboratory will be delivered during future expeditions.
The head of the Bulgarian base on Livingston Island also said that the sewage network is now fully completed and all buildings have been supplied with water. Wastewater is processed through a treatment plant, and a discharge system is still to be completed, he added.
Speaking in Aheloy, Nedkov reported that a series of renovations had also been carried out during the 34th expedition. Windows were replaced, new water heaters and washing machines were installed, and the roof of the main building was repaired. According to him, one of the most significant achievements was the restoration of the old chapel and the installation of icons inside it.
Nedkov also emphasized the cleanup efforts around the base. He said that during this year’s visit, additional work was done to remove items that had been buried years ago, and these were transported back to Bulgaria for disposal.
“This time, the base remained open for 118 days,” Nedkov added. He emphasized that its ongoing improvement and modernization are enabling Bulgarian scientists to undertake increasingly ambitious research projects.
Details about the construction and installation work carried out at the base during the 34th Bulgarian Antarctic Expedition were also presented by engineer Veselin Stamenov, manager of Simsta Engineering Ltd. He recalled that the company has been working in Antarctica for several years. According to him, one of the most important current tasks is the completion of the laboratory being built jointly with the United Arab Emirates. Stamenov said that the building has already been completed and will be highly functional.
Kiril Kandilarov spoke about studies examining the health status of Bulgarian polar researchers. According to him, such assessments are conducted before departure, during their stay on the Ice Continent, and after their return.
Kandilarov explained that a key focus of the project is the study of stress in people living under extreme conditions. He noted that a substantial database has already been accumulated. Changes in diet and eating habits have a noticeable impact on individuals, Kandilarov pointed out. He emphasized that this type of stress should be examined during every expedition to determine whether anyone requires an individualized regimen, thereby reducing potential health risks.
