Western Investor 'Eyes Belene Nuclear Plant' - ex-Energy Min

A Western company is interested in the abandoned Belene nuclear power plant (NPP) project in Bulgaria, former Energy Minister Rumen Ovcharov has argued.

"[The investor] is not bad at all if the idea is not to spend the state's money," Ovcharova has told private NOVA TV station.

But he has refused to elaborate, saying he is not "authorized" to reveal more.

"It is the [incumbent] Energy Minister who has to say this," in Ovcharvov's words.

Ovcharov was one of the two former energy ministers indicted earlier in November over transactions relating to the Belene NPP. He maintains the charges are politically motivated.

He has also urged the outgoing government to consider the situation. Before the cabinet's resignation, Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev and Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova had been arguing the Belene NPP might be built, but only if a private investor was found.

The project was brought to a halt in the early 2010s, with Russia's Atomstroexport having remained the only substantial investor at the time.