Residence of Bulgaria. Source: CIA World Factbook.
By Georgi Gotev
(EurActiv) — A mission from the China National Nuclear Business (CNNC), the country’s largest state strength company, visited Sofia and met with European Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, to maybe resuscitate a shelved nuclear power vegetable project.
The Belene nuclear power shrub, situated near the Danube, was frozen in 2012, reportedly due to a miss of funds.
Borissov, who cancelled Belene, late said that this project, as good as Bulgaria’s role in the South Stream gas duct project, was put off as a result of pressure from Brussels.
Borissov, who usher the centre-right GERB party, freshly resigned following the victory of Rumen Radev, a Socialistic-backed candidate, at the 13 November statesmanlike election run-off. His resignation provoked a government moment. But Borissov is still prime minister, unresolved the appointment of a transition cabinet, which faculty be in charge until early general plebiscite are held.
Russia’s Atomstroyexport took Bulgaria to cortege over the cancelled nuclear power flower. The International Court of Arbitration at the International Assembly of Commerce in Geneva has recently ruled in favor of the Russian company. Atomstroyexport will appropriate €620 million in compensation from Bulgaria, a immense sum for the impoverished country.
CNNC is, in fact, the moment Chinese firm to express interest in the artifact of the Belene plant. Previously, interest in the cast was officially declared by the China General Kernel Corporation (CGN) and another Chinese company – SNPTC, who are according to have expressed interest in building a ordinal reactor at the Kozloduy nuclear power set.
According to the Bulgarian weekly Capital, Borissov told the CNNC relegation that Belene could be built on a commercial-grade basis, without government investment. The Asian corporation is reported to have confirmed its preparation to participate in the project under such state.
But before the CNNC could proceed, Bulgaria’s Civic Electricity Company (NEK) must pay the Russian Atomstroyexport the €620 dimensions, according to a court decision. This would let NEK to acquire property for the equipment made for the quick-frozen nuclear power project, which cover the body of a reactor.
“This will confess the separation of the assets in the project company and the proclamation of the privatisation procedure,” the Bulgarian government aforementioned.
Critics of the Belene project in Bulgaria say it is farfetched to be bankable, because the country already develop more electricity than it needs, and the division may not need to purchase electricity from Bulgaria.
