Bulgaria extends talks on sale of Russian-made nuclear reactors to Ukraine
The Bulgarian parliament has approved a six-month extension for the government to negotiate the sale of two Russian-made nuclear reactors and associated equipment to Ukraine.
Source: Euractiv, EU-focused news and analysis website, as reported by Ukrinform news agency
Details: Sofia received these reactors from the Russian firm Atomstroyexport over six years ago. However, they proved unusable after Bulgaria abandoned the construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant (NPP).
The reactors are currently stored near Belene, awaiting sale.
Bulgaria has been in talks with Ukraine for nearly two years regarding the sale of the equipment. The country's parliament has instructed the government to finalise a deal valued at no less than €600 million, the amount paid by the Bulgarian National Electricity Company to Russia's Atomstroyexport.
It is noted that specialists from Energoatom, the Ukrainian state-owned nuclear company, arrived in Bulgaria to inspect the equipment of the Belene NPP. But the war unleashed by Russia against Ukraine has played a crucial role in the negotiation process.
Earlier this year, the European Commission acknowledged that a potential deal to sell Russian-made reactors could be financed with funds allocated by the EU to help Ukraine.
Bulgarian radio station BNR reported that Bulgarian MPs plan to update the market assessment prepared last year and obtain the necessary approvals from Energoatom in the additional 180 days.
Background:
- Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers has submitted a draft law to the Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament) concerning the siting, design, and construction of Khmelnytskyi NPP Units Nos. 3 and 4.
- Ukraine's Energy Ministry reported that the construction of two nuclear power units at Khmelnytskyi NPP will increase electricity production by 16.226 million kWh per year and electricity supply by 15.415 million kWh per year.
- Khmelnytskyi NPP currently has two power units in operation.
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