Northwestern Bulgaria, the poorest EU region, is eager for the construction of the vastly troubled Belene nuclear power plant, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

"The people in Northwest Bulgaria are expecting 10-15 000 jobs from the construction of Belene. All those in the Pleven region await it like manna. Go there and ask them. Belene is all they talk about. Because this means 5-6 years of bustling construction, concrete, iron, jobs. Those opposed to the project are primarily the green lobbies who are in favor of green energy. Because green energy brings very sweet money, easy to get once you invest, and these are enormous amounts of money. Our government wants equality of green energy and traditional sources. What will happen if there is no wind?" Borisov told the Kapital weekly in an interview.

He further declared that the nuclear power plant project in the Danube town of Belene should not be viewed as a political or a geopolitical project but simply in economic terms.

"That's why we have selected a consultant" - Borisov said referring to the HSBC bank picked last year for the Belene project - "who should help us decide if the project is worth it. This is an economic project. If it is beneficial, we are going for it. That's it!", the PM stated.

Borisov further makes it clear he is opposed to the holding of a referendum on whether to build the Belene plant or not.

Bulgaria's only existing NPP - in the Danube town of Kozloduy - is also located in the region of Northwestern Bulgaria, or Severozapaden, the NUTS 2 region with the smallest GDP per capita in the EU.

Over the past week, Bulgaria's National Electric Company NEK signed two new agreements with Russia's Rosatom and its subsidiary Atomstroyexport for the construction of the Belene NPP which set a deadline of two months for a final agreement on the fate of the project.

The cost has been the major bone of contention between Bulgaria and Russia, with safety concerns being added after the nuclear crisis in Japan's Fukushima NPP after the March 11 earthquake.

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