site.btaNon-Russian Foreign Investor Thought to Be Interested in Belene Nuclear Plant Project

Non-Russian Foreign Investor
Thought to Be Interested
in Belene Nuclear Plant Project


Pleven, North Central Bulgaria, January 7 (BTA) - A non-Russian
foreign investor is interested in buying the project for a
second Bulgarian nuclear power plant at Belene, ABV party Deputy
Chairman Roumen Petkov told a news conference in Pleven on
Wednesday. Petkov said that, using personal channels, he has
verified that a letter from the potential investor has reached
Bulgaria's Council of Ministers.

The intended investor has asked to meet with the Bulgarian
government, stating that he does not expect any financial
guarantees from the government about the investment in the
Belene project, Petkov said. Nor does he want any agreement
requiring the government to buy the electricity which will be
generated by the future nuclear power plant. The investor is
ready to use the project design already approved, Petkov said.

"The investor knows that the environmental impact assessment
licence has expired. I think that the Bulgarian government
should invite him as soon as possible and should examine the
condition of his entire business and the capital origin
guarantees," Petkov said.

The ABV parliamentary group will consider raising a formal
question with the Energy Minister or the Prime Minister about
the content of the letter from the potential investor and about
any action which will be taken in this regard, Petkov said,
noting that this is a strategic matter relevant to national
security.

He said he is not overly optimistic about Bulgaria's
negotiations with Russia on extending the service life of the
two operational reactors at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant.
"Unless Belene goes under construction, in 20 years Bulgaria
will disappear from the world map as a country producing atomic
energy for peaceful purposes, and the blame will be on this
government," the ABV deputy leader commented.

He said his parliamentary group will also propose a
parliamentary inquiry into the state of the Bulgarian energy
sector and its future. Petkov believes that the sector is in a
state of collapse. PK/VE


/СН/