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Bulgaria’s decision to suspend Belene political

Kiriyenko considered it possible to transfer the purchased equipment to the construction site of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant

MOSCOW, April 24 (Itar-Tass) — The Bulgarian government’s decision to suspend the construction of the Belene nuclear power plant was more political than technical and economical, the head of Russia’s state-run nuclear power corporation, Sergei Kiriyenko, said on Tuesday.

“We are ready to fulfil the contract obligations and ready to accept the decision of the Bulgarian government,” he said. “Most of the equipment (for the Belene nuclear power plant) had been built and another batch is being manufactured. Contracts with the plants were concluded and these are big sums, the order for equipment and works totals some 1 billion euros. It is necessary either to pay for this equipment or to break agreements and pay fines to enterprises. This is the issue for the consumer to decide.”

Kiriyenko considered it possible to transfer the purchased equipment to the construction site of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant.

“However, there is neither project, nor license nor a construction permit for Kozloduy. The period when this equipment can be used at the Kozloduy project is 5-7 years,” he said adding that “it is clear what will happen with this equipment during this time.”

He added that one nuclear power generating unit is expected to be built at the Kozloduy plant and not two units as it had been planned for Belene, therefore not all equipment can be transported there.

“The Bulgarian government’s decision was political, but not well-thought technical and economical,” Kiriyenko said. “We do not feel our partners’ further readiness for further steps.”

“We respect the Bulgarian authorities’ decision, but no further steps are seen. It seems that the Bulgarian side realizes not quite enough what this means to take all equipment to Kozloduy and what they will do,” he said.