The first reactor of Belene Nuclear Power may start operations in 2007-2009, Vesselin Bliznakov, Parliamentary Energy Committee Chairman, announced.
The exact date depends on the type of reactors to be chosen, he specified, adding that four variants for different types of reactors are now being discussed.
Intensive consultations and a broad discussion involving Bulgarian and foreign experts will be held about the type of the reactors to be used in Belene, near the Danube port of Belene, 250 kilometers (155 miles) northeast of Sofia. In the words of Parliamentary Energy Committee Chairman a number of companies can be attracted for the strategic investment of some USD 1,2 M.
At the end of December last year Bulgaria's Cabinet lifted the ban on the completion of Bulgaria's second nuclear plant. The project for its construction was shelved in 1992 after pressure from environmentalists. Over USD 1 B has been invested in the project so far.
Its launch is part of Bulgaria's efforts to keep its position of a Balkan energy leader. Alternative to nuclear power engineering sources such as the Maritsa Iztok -2 and 3 thermo-electric power station are to be upgraded.
A bill on power engineering will be submitted to Parliament around the end of February 2003. The new legislation will give priority to renewable energy sources, which now account only for 0.5 % of power sources in Bulgaria.