Rosatom: The withdrawal of Bulgaria from the Belene NPP project would be a negligible loss

The eventual withdrawal of the Bulgarian authorities from the construction of  Belene NPP will not lead to substantial losses for the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, commented the Head of the Corporation Sergey Kiriyenko yesterday in relation to the decision of the Bulgarian GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party) government to withdraw from the project.

"In view of the total volume of Rosatom orders, the withdrawal from one NPP construction project will be a negligible loss. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of time and efforts were dedicated to the NPP Belene project. Of course, it would be a pity if the project is not implemented," reckoned Kiriyenko, quoted by ITAR-TASS. In his words, Russia's stance on the issue is strictly pragmatic. "If Bulgaria decides to construct the NPP Belene, then we will participate. If Bulgaria rejects the project, then we will not implement it", indicated the Head of Rosatom.

The reaction of Brussels was also pragmatic. According to it, Bulgaria as any other EU member state, is entitled on its own opinion in relation to managing its energy resources, commented before the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency, Marlene Holzner, a Spokeswoman for EU Energy Commissioner, Günther Oettinger, the decision of the Bulgarian government to terminate the NPP Belene project and to construct a new reactor in NPP Kozloduy.

The Commissioner's team stated that Bulgaria had the free will to consider where to construct a new reactor or a NPP - whether in Belene or Kozludy or elsewhere on its territory. The European Commission highlighted that licensing of the projects is the main responsibility of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency in compliance with the standards of the European Directives on nuclear safety and nuclear waste management.

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