Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borisov has indicated the construciton of Belene, a nuclear plant that was to be built by Russia, is still on the table.

Bulgaria cancelled the project under Borisov's first government (2009-2013). In June, it lost an arbitration suit filed by Atomstroyexport, the Russian company that had been commissioned the reactor and other equipment for the future plant.

In the aftermath, Bulgaria is to pay EUR 0.55 B to Russia, but will receive in return the equipment already manufactured. Sofia is exploring options to sell it to a third country.

Borisov on Sunday told the media his cabinet was considering several options, including talks with Russian authorities or a sale of the reactor to a third country such as Iran, where he is on a visit.

Another option is to put it out for privatization.

"If none of these options is successful, then I will go to Parliament and say: "Either we have to set aside [EUR 550 M] in the new budget and all the interest rates piling up daily, or we have to lift the moratorium and build [the Belene plant]," he is heard saying on the Bulgarian National Radio.