Bulgarian Energy Minister Hints at New NPP Contract with Russia

Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, says a new contract for the Belene NPP might need to be handed to the Russian side. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's Economy and Energy Minister, Traicho Traikov, announced the country is to, most likely, present to Russia a new project for contract for the Nuclear Power Plant, NPP, in the Danube town of Belene.

"After consultants examined the current contract, they said that this is not an agreement for an NPP supposed to function based on market rules. This is a contract between two countries that have agreed they will build an NPP with secured financing, and it is obvious money will flow there. This is it - i.e. there we have to return to the beginning of the maze as well and possibly present a new contract, Traikov, cited Saturday by the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, stated.

The Minister was adamant there will be a contract for Russian gas supply, regardless of Belene, and it will be signed when Bulgaraz and Gazprom iron out all details and reach an agreement.

Traikov pointed out it is very important to include in the planning all developing processes and upcoming events such as future gas connections with Greece, and Azerbaijan, discovering new gas deposits in the Bulgarian Black Sea shelf, and deposits of schist gas.

On Thursday, Traikov announced, after a meeting in Brussels with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Schmatko, with the CEO of Russian energy giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller, and his Deputy, Alexander Medvedev, Bulgaria and Russia are not getting closer in reaching an agreement on the price of the project to build the Belene NPP.

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