Rosatom steps up pressure for the construction of Belene NPP

The Russian Atomstroyexport company expects to receive the response of the National Electricity Company (NEK) on the submitted proposals for extending the agreement on the construction of the Belene NPP until December 1, 2011.

Michail Andonov, Executive Director of NEK, said that the draft response would be analyzed and submitted for coordination to the project consultant - the HSBC Bank, the Bulgarian Energy Holding and the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism. However, NEK's response was still not received by the end of the business day on Monday.

On August10, Bulgaria and Russia started negotiations on the purchase of old equipment of Belene NPP, which has been stored on the site since 1991. Representatives from Atomstroyexport, from the parent company Rosatom and the National Electricity Company partake in the negotiations. The reason for the negotiations are the claims of NEK against Atomstroyexport, regarding the purchase price of the old equipment, which amounts to € 61 mln, according to the framework agreement, while the Russian company argues that this price could not exceed €40.2 mln.

The negotiations were launched after the initiated lawsuit against NEK for €58 mln by Atomstoyexport, due for unpaid new equipment, produced for the NPP project. On August 11, Atomstroyexport announced that it would negotiate on the price of the old equipment, only if the project for the Belene NPP would be continued.

For that reason, Russia offered a loan to the Bulgarian site that would enable the initial work on the project. The opinion of the consultant on the project - the British HSBC,however, is not expected earlier than September 15. Furthermore, the Bulgarian Government insists that the cost of the NPP be reduced - Rosatom said that it was ready to build Belene NPP for no less than € 6.3 bn.

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