Thirteen Offers Submitted for Belene N-Plant Project

Thirteen offers have been submitted for involvement in the Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, including seven bids by potential strategic investors, Energy Minister Temenouzhka Petkova told a news conference on Tuesday.

Petkova said two applicants suggest to supply equipment and to participate in the project's financial structuring. The remaining four applicants want to buy minority stakes in the project and to sign electricity purchase contracts.

The 90-day deadline for entering bids expired on Monday evening.

The government launched a selection procedure for a strategic investor this last May in a bid to go forward with the project cancelled in 2012. The authorities set May 22, 2020 as the deadline for negotiating with the prospective participants.

The following companies entered bids for strategic investments: Rosatom through its subsidiary Atomenergoprom; Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. Ltd; a German-registered company; the China National Nuclear Corporation; two Bulgarian-registered consortia Elektrocentrala Belene 2019 and AEC Belene; and Bulgarian company IPK & UP EOOD.

France's Framatome suggests to participate in the project's financial structuring and the supply of safety systems. General Electric also seeks involvement in the financial structuring and as a potential designer and supplier of equipment.

Bulgaria's Grand Energy Distribution and Atomenergoremont AD want to acquire minority stakes. Bulgaria's European Trade of Energy has expressed an interest in buying electricity. North Macedonia wants to participate in the project's implementation through a minority stake acquired by its electricity company and a long-term electricity purchase contract.

Source: BTA