The decision to scrap plans to build Belene nuclear power plant is a catastrophic mistake, taken under US pressure, and dooms Bulgaria's only technology sector to slow death, a socialist has fumed.

"The Americans, not Borisov decided the fate of Belene," Socialist MP and former economy and energy minister Rumen Ovcharov told Nova TV morning broadcast, referring to Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

"The move will clear the market for Maritsa East output, whose price is three time higher," Ovcharov said.

"I was absolutely dumbfounded by the prime minister's statements, which showed total lack of knowledge and competence. In fifteen years Bulgaria will be forced to import electricity, trust me," added Ovcharov, who left the previous government in 2007 in the wake of a corruption scandal.

In the middle of last year Italian energy giant Enel closed the sale of its majority stake in Maritsa East 3, a Bulgarian coal-fired plant, to US investment fund Contour Global.

The Dutch subsidiary Enel Investment Holding BV has transferred its 73% stake in the Bulgarian company Maritsa East 3 AD, owner of a lignite-fueled power plant ("Enel Maritsa East 3"), and 73% of the share capital of the Bulgarian company Enel Operations Bulgaria AD, which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the plant.

The plant is located in the Maritsa East lignite coal mining complex in southern Bulgaria, which generates 30% of the country's electricity.

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