Almost 30% of the eligible voters of Bulgaria's Black Sea municipality of Pomorie have voted in the local referendum on the construction of the Burgas-Alexandoupolis oil pipeline by the early afternoon.

Some 23 000 residents of the resort town of Pomorie and the nearby villages are eligible to vote in the referendum by answering the question, "Do you approve of the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil transit pipeline with its installation and facilities being located on the territory of the Pomorie Municipality.

According to the Pomorie Mayor, Petar Zlatanov, Pomorie will be the first municipality in which more than 50% of the eligible voters would take part in the local referendum making it legitimate, BGNES reported.

"Pomorie is the only municipality in Bulgaria which has seven environmentally protected areas, and no political affiliations can be more important than the well-being of our people", Mayor Zlatanov said alluding to the concerns about the impact that the planned oil pipeline would have on the environment and the local economy, which is based mainly on tourism.

Similar local referendums took place in the city of Burgas in February 2008, and in the town of Sozopol in April 2008. Even though the cast votes were overwhelmingly against the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, both referendums were void as they failed to generate a turnout of more than 50%.

In Burgas, only 27,9% of the eligible voters in the city cast their votes. Yet, those who voted rejected the planned oil pipeline construction with 96,77% voting against, or a total of 49 552 Burgas residents.

In Sozopol, 39,9% of the eligible voters cast their votes with 99,62% voting against the planned pipeline.

The local referendums have no binding legal power in Bulgaria so even if the Pomorie referendum is not void, it is not clear what impact its results might have.

The agreement for the company which will construct the Russian-sponsored Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil transit pipeline was signed by Bulgaria during Russian President Putin's visit to Sofia in January. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2011 or the beginning of 2012.

The 280-kilometer pipeline, with 166 kilometers passing through Bulgaria, would have an initial annual capacity of 35 million tons, which could be later expanded to 50 million tons. The construction is estimated to cost up to USD 900 M.

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