Shmatko 'Sad' for Bulgaria's 'Stagnant' Belene NPP Project

There for the time being are no perspectives for activization on Bulgaria's Belene NPP project, commented Russian Energy Minister Sergey Shmatko Monday.

"Belene NPP is stagnating. I am sad to be saying this, but I see no prospects that in the next few months the negotiation process will be activated," said Shmatko at a press-conference.

Bulgaria has commissioned Russian state nuclear power giant Atomstroyexport to build its second NPP at Belene, but has argued the price offered by the company is excessively high.

Monday the Russian Minister of Energy reiterated his country's position that the offer is exceptionally advantageous for Bulgaria and that at present no company would offer such economically favorable terms.

Shmatko also added that in this case Bulgaria cannot just abruptly decide that it quits the project, like it did with the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline project, to be executed jointly by Russia, Bulgaria and Greece.

"Here huge funds have already been invested, we have already committed great expenses. So the Bulgarians cannot just throw it away," said he.

Earlier at the press conference, Shmatko annouced that Russia will be claiming from Bulgaria all costs it incurred in the failed Burgas-Alexandroupolis project.