Geoffrey Van Orden, rapporteur for Bulgaria in the European Parliament, vehemently denied to have requested the extension of the lifetime of Kozloduy nuke units 3 and 4.

The uproar erupted after an apparent misinterpretation of a recommendation in Orden's latest report on Bulgaria, which called for a more flexible approach to the closure of the two nuclear units. The definition sparked an outcry during the discussions at the European Parliament Foreign Committee on Monday evening.

Van Orden told the national state-run radio BNR that he has never asked for a delay of the units decommissioning and disagreed that his latest report was the harshest ever.

I am just trying to make the Bulgarian authorities do what they should to prevent safeguard clauses, Van Orden said.

Interpretation of the recommendations in the report on Bulgaria is a matter of political position, said socialist EP Observer Evgeni Kirilov, commenting the issue.

"The closure of units 3&4 is creating a real threat for a power shortage in winter", Kirilov added.

One of the strictest EU requirements towards Bulgaria regarded the closure of the first four units of the Nuclear Power Plant in Kozloduy. Units 1&2 have already been closed and when units 3&4 shut down in December, the country would have to drastically cut its electricity exports leaving neighbours in the dark.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!