Traikov dismisses the Head of NEK because of the Belene NPP

“The Executive Director of the National Electricity Company (NEK) Krassimir Parvanov was dismissed because he signed an agreement disadvantageous to our country for the construction of the Belene NPP (Nuclear Power Plant),” said Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Traicho Traikov yesterday. Parvanov has put his signature under Appendix 12 to the contract for the construction of the Belene NPP without being authorised to do so. Traikov approached the Prime Minister asking him to refer to the State Agency for National Security (SANS) because national interests had not been protected.

“According to the endorsed Appendix 12 to the contract from 2006, the contract for engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) must be signed within two months, under which Russia and Bulgaria have to agree on the project's cost. Meanwhile, the memorandum stated that within three months it will be clear whether further measures aimed at improving the safety of the plant have to be taken,” highlighted Traikov.

“In my opinion, this shows clearly that, in Bulgaria, Russian pressure is sometimes stronger than the ability of certain people, whose vocation it is to defend national interests, to withstand it,” said Traikov.

President Parvanov was unavailable for comment yesterday and did not answer his mobile phone. It is not known yet who will be put appointed as head of NEK.

Earlier yesterday, NEK announced that Bulgaria and Russia had reached an agreement for the construction of the Belene NPP. The two documents will take effect retrospectively on March 31, 2011 because this was when the last agreement on the plant expired.

All new construction activities and the production of new equipment for the nuclear plant will be suspended, NEK explained. A week ago, PM Boyko Borissov said that a moratorium on the construction of the plant will be signed in order to clear the controversial issues with respect to the project and reconsider safety after the events at Japan’s Fukushima NPP.

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