Three Companies Interested in Bulgaria's Belene Nuclear Plant

Bulgaria's outgoing Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova. File photo, BGNES

There are three potential investors in abandoned Belene nuclear power plant (NPP) project, outgoing Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova said on Wednesday.

Petkova told the Bulgarian National Radio the real investment interest would only be measured through a privatization procedure.

Earlier this week, she met representatives of China's state-owned nuclear company to discuss the project.

Bulgaria is to pay hundreds of thousands of EUR to Russian company Atomstroyexport, a Rosatom subsidiary, after losing an arbitration suit in June. Sofia abandoned the construction of Belene NPP several years back, as Atomstroyexport had already produced part of the equipment needed for the plant, but now considers reviving the project by involving other investors.  

On Tuesday, the Energy Ministry granted NEK the EUR 601.617 M financial assistance it needs to pay off the debt assigned under the arbitration ruling.

Earlier, the EU Commission gave the green light for the sum to be transferred, saying it did not consider it to be tantamount to state aid.

Atomstroyexport will not demand the payment of any interest if the sum is fully paid by December 15.

After delivering, Bulgaria would receive the reactors and other equipment manufactured by Atomstroyexport for the Belene NPP, Petkov told the BNR.

For the moment, the reactors will be stored at the Belene construction site.

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