Serbian Eco Minister Opposes Bulgaria's Nuclear Project

A file picture of a building of the first 1,000 MW unit of the second nuclear plant of Belane, some 220km from Sofia, Bulgaria. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Serbia's participation in the project to build a second Bulgarian nuclear power plant located in Belene is not feasible, according to Serbian Environment Minister, Oliver Dulic.

Dulic, cited by the Beta news agency, said the discussion on the subject was led mainly in the media and not so much in the cabinet of the country, adding Serbia should not commit to NPPs before using all renewable energy sources and their huge potential.

The Environment Minister reminded Serbia has a moratorium on building NPPs until 2015 and pointed out it lacks experts thus to talk about nuclear projects was premature.

Dulic stated his institution would firmly oppose the use of nuclear energy on Serbian territory.

The Minister's words come in contradiction of those of his colleague, Energy Minister, Petar Skundric, who has reiterated on several occasions Serbia was interested in taking part in the Belene project.

On November 30, an agreement for Belene was signed in Sofia between the Russian State Corporation "Rosatom" and the Bulgarian National Electric Company (NEK) to establish a company to study the project. The Finish Fortum has a symbolic stake of 1% while the French Altran Technologies is expected to join the project.

According to the signed documents, Bulgaria will have 51% of the NPP, but other investors would later have the opportunity to increase their shares to 25% in the expense of the Russian and the Bulgarian ones.

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