site.btaBSP Submits Draft Resolution to Parliament on Lifting Moratorium on Belene Nuclear Power Plant Project

Sofia, June 1 (BTA) - The opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) submitted Friday to Parliament a draft resolution on lifting the moratorium on the Belene nuclear power plant project, BSP MP Tasko Ermenkov told reporters.

In 2012 Bulgaria abandoned plans to build a new N-plant, at Belene, as unfeasible. In 2016, however, this country was ordered by an arbitration court to pay 1,170 million leva to the Russian contractor AtomStroyExport for two reactors it had already built for the power station.

Discussions intensified in May about the possibility to restart the project, but on a market principle, without state guarantees on the part of Bulgaria and without concluding long-term agreements on the purchase of power produced by Belene.

Ermenkov said that according to the BSP, the project is necessary for the development of the economy of this country.

The lifting of the moratorium is needed so that strategic investors can be approached for participation in the project.

On Thursday GERB floor leader Tsvetan Tsvetanov said that the discussions by Parliament on lifting the moratorium will probably take place next week or in the week after.