The construction of Unit 7 of Bulgaria’s Kozloduy nuclear power plant may start in 2016, Bulgarian Economy and Energy Minister Dragomir Stoynev has said.

Bulgaria’s government revealed in December that it aimed to build one 1,000- or 1,200-megawatt water-pressurised AP 1000 III+ reactor produced by Westinghouse, the US unit of Toshiba Corp.

Stoynev told reporters on Friday that the Bulgarian Energy Holding and Westinghouse would need approximately six months to reach a joint-stock agreement on the project.

“Once the European Commission gives its green light, we may start the construction in 2016,” he said.

Stoynev also reiterated that the construction of the Bulgarian section of the South Stream gas pipeline may start in 2014.

The issue of a new unit at the NPP Kozloduy came up after the project for the construction of the NPP Belene was frozen by the center-right GERB government.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria is also striving to get an extension of the life of units 5, 6 of the Kozloduy NPP.

The license of unit 5 of NPP Kozloduy expires in November 2017 and that of unit 6 in October 2019.

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