Energy Minister: Talks with EDF on Belene equipment frozen but not terminated

Talks with EDF to prepare an analysis of the Belene NPP equipment and whether it is fit to be used for the eventual construction of a nuclear power plant at the site have been frozen. This was announced by the Minister of Energy Rumen Radev at a hearing by the Energy Committee of the National Assembly and in response to a question from "Vazrazhdane".

“I will say this: there is no end to any conversation. Frozen is different from discontinued. That is, we are not continuing the steps in this direction and I even had the opportunity ... This is my only public appearance so far and I even shared why? The truth is that yes, there have been talks," said the minister, explaining that this is not necessarily an award. He explained that, based on the preliminary talks with EDF, NEC received a proposal to commission a similar type of analysis.

"What does this analysis include? Two positions. First position - could you, what would you suggest about the possibility of the available assets with a long production life to be used in a subsequent project. The second point - would you suggest any alternative with, for example, 1200 MW capacity," Radev said and shared how things look from his point of view as an outsider. "They look like this to me: on point one, you will show me how difficult, let's say, impossible to manage to integrate a solution of one company, equipment of one company, abstract whether it is Russian or of any other origin in technologies that you yourself sell... But let's assume that it can be done. What is the usual solution after such a thing? The usual answer is: I can. I can do everything, but at a higher price (obviously a higher price than a project you can do in another project, with other contractors). But I offer you the second one, which is the second part of the option... It is interesting that you ask me about 1200 MW. By chance, I produce exactly that...", the minister pointed out, adding after admitting a hybrid variant. "Certainly, hybrid variants are always more expensive. But beyond this first part as an answer, in answering this first part, in the second part, would you be willing to pay someone to tell you that he would be very suitable as a producer of something?" asked Radev.

"And amid this whole exercise, yes, there is a sum to be paid," he pointed out.

"Recently, I heard an argument that if we entered into any negotiations for a solid value, which you as people's deputies supported... for no less than one, whatever amount the reactors are to be sold, and if we took some percentage of this value, then the error would be 10 million.... this I heard in a public statement.' According to him, the interesting thing is that this amount is comparable to such an analysis, but whether it is effective is another question.

In this regard, the Minister of Energy explained that there is a professional expert assessment of the value of the equipment for the Belene NPP. "There are options there as well, according to the scope of the mandate we've been given. He does not oblige us to sell. We don't sell, we talk about interest under what conditions, what we can do. In any case, we look, observe our maximum interest. This is the most normal and natural thing," he said, adding that he is also confident that a deal can be finalized. "We are looking at all hypotheses," specified the Minister of Energy.

Regarding the contract with "Framatom" for the supply of nuclear fuel for the 6th unit of the Kozloduy NPP, and in response to a question, the minister explained that our country is secured for the 6th unit. Delyan Dobrev, for his part, explained that this is related to a decision of the National Assembly on the diversification of nuclear fuel, adding that no more Russian nuclear fuel will be purchased.