Judith Melin, Chairman of the International Nuclear Regulators' Association, visited Wednesday Bulgaria's only nuclear power plant in the town of Kozloduy, the Bulgarian News Agency reported.

On her rounds at the plant Melin was accompanied by Chairman of Bulgaria's Nuclear Regulation Agency Emil Vapirev.

The visit comes amid continuing controversy on whether the country should close the plant's units 3, 4 by 2006, as previously agreed under pressure from the European Union. Many state officials, however, insist that the two 440-megawatt reactors are capable of working safely long after this deadline expires.

Experts from the European Union (EU) are expected to conduct a peer review on the units, and Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov has insisted that the check should take place by the end of this year.

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