site.btaEnergy Experts Comment on Future of Equipment Intended for Belene N-Plant

Engineer Ilia Raynov from Bulgarian private company Group International commented at a BTA-hosted news conference that if the equipment intended for the Belene Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is sold, a project for a second nuclear power plant will be feasible in 20 to 25 years at the earliest. Raynov said Bulgaria would be a net electricity importer after 2025 because the output of the Kozloduy NPP and the generating facilities which will still be operating after most of the coal-fired plants shut down will not be able to meet the domestic requirements.

Bulgaria will have no choice but to buy very expensive electricity, Raynov said. The only way to avoid this is to implement the Belene NPP project.

The Bulgarian Parliament authorized the Energy Minister to hold talks with his Ukrainian counterpart or his representative on the sale of the equipment intended for the Belene NPP for at least BGN 1.2 billion - the price Bulgaria paid to Russia's Atomstroyexport.

Energy expert Georgi Kaschiev told BTA that the equipment for the Belene NPP should not be sold in a hurry because some of the steam generators could operate in Kozloduy NPP's Units 5 and 6 when the time comes for their steam generators to be replaced. He suggested that the experts at the Kozloduy NPP should be asked first  if this replacement will have to be made. Kaschiev said there are eight steam generators at the Belene site and the option of keeping half of them for the Kozloduy NPP should be discussed. It should not be a problem if the other four steam generators were sold, though the sale would not be easily feasible.

Energy Minister Rumen Radev commented in a bTV interview on July 16 that some of the steam generators for the Belene NPP could be used in Kozloduy's Unit 6. The National Electric Company is expected to provide independent expertise and evaluation of the equipment for the Belene NPP.

Energy expert Mladen Mitev told BTA that Parliament has already resolved that the equipment for the Belene NPP must be sold. The expert believes this will not affect the future of Bulgaria's nuclear energy sector because even if the equipment is sold, another reactor can be installed on the site. He recalled that Electricite de France had considered the option of finishing the construction of the project with French technology.