site.btaParliament Tasks Energy Minister to Submit Proposals for Use of Belene N-plant Assets

Sofia, March 2 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Parliament on Friday tasked the Energy Minister to submit proposals by June 30 for the use of the assets in the Belene N-plant project, including the establishment of a project company. The vote was 137-0 in favour, with no abstentions.

Delyan Dobrev one of the motion sponsors, said that this was not a decision whether to build the plant or not. "Today's decision doesn't exclude none of the options for the government: the construction of the plant, the possible construction of a seventh unit at the existing plant Kozloduy or the sale of the Belene equipment." Dobrev said that GERB have always stated their will for the implementation of the projects without state guarantees and funding as the state has already paid over 3 billion leva.

Tasko Ermenkov recalled that the history of the Belene project and the investments already made and noted that Belene is a matter of national security. He recalled that a recent report on the viability of the project concluded that the worst case scenario will be to do nothing as this will be a waste of the resources invested so far.

Ramadan Atalay urged for an energy strategy.