Business

Rosatom submits bid to revive Bulgarian nuclear power plant

Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear energy corporation, has formally submitted a bid to take part in the construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Bulgaria, the company announced on August 19.

“The Rosatom State Corporation has presented a bid for participation in the procedure as part of the selection of a strategic investor for the Belene NPP project (Bulgaria). The National Electricity Company (NEK) of Bulgaria successfully accepted the bid,” Rosatom confirmed.

Construction of the nuclear plant first began in 1987 but were abandoned in 1990 when it was around 40 per cent complete. Since then, various Bulgarian governments have attempted to restart the project, with little success.

The Kremlin first announced its readiness to participate in the revival of the plant in May last year, when the matter was discussed by Russian President Vladimir Putin during talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, for whom the plant has become a key project.