China 'Interested in Bulgaria's Belene Nuclear Plant'

China's state-owned nuclear company is eyeing the Belene nuclear power plant project in Bulgaria, the government in Sofia has said.

In a statement to the media, the cabinet's press office shows images of a meeting of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and other officials with representatives of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) in Sofia.

The Chinese representatives, whose names are not included, are reported as saying their company stands "ready" to carry out the projects under the conditions offered by the government.

The meeting was held at the CNNC's initiative, according to the statement.

Alongside Borisov, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova and Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, who oversees economic development, also took part in the talks.

"During the meeting, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov explained that the Belene project may be carried out on a market basis, with no state investment and no long-term electricity purchase contracts," the statement also says.

Bulgaria is yet to pay hundreds of millions of EUR to Russian Atomstroyexport company this month over the abandoned Belene NPP project. After the delivering the sum, it will receive the equipment manufactured before Belene was ditched by Borisov's previous government.

The CNNC does not rank as a government administrative body, even though its head is appointed by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang.

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