Bulgaria continues talks on sale of Russia-made nuclear reactors to Ukraine
Illustrative photo (flickr.com)
Bulgaria's Parliament has approved a decision to extend by six months the deadline for the government to finalize negotiations on the sale of two Russian nuclear reactors and accompanying equipment to Ukraine, citing Euractiv.
The Bulgarian authorities received these reactors from Russia's Atomstroyexport more than six years ago, but they became unusable after the country abandoned plans to build the Belene nuclear power plant.
The reactors are currently stored near Belene, awaiting sale. Negotiations with Ukraine, which have been ongoing for nearly two years, will only conclude if the Bulgarian government secures a price of at least €600 million, the amount that Bulgaria's National Electric Company paid to Atomstroyexport.
A visit by experts from Ukraine's nuclear operator, Energoatom, to Bulgaria was organized to inspect the equipment at the Belene nuclear power plant. However, the ongoing war in Ukraine has impacted the negotiation process.
The European Commission previously acknowledged that the potential deal for the reactors could be financed with EU funds allocated for assistance to Ukraine.
The Bulgaria-Ukraine agreement is unique in that Bulgaria is the only country with two Russian reactors it no longer needs, while Ukraine is the only country capable of benefiting from them.
This year, Ukraine plans to begin the construction of four new nuclear units at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant. Two of these will be built using the Russian equipment Ukraine plans to import from Bulgaria, while the other two will utilize American technology from Westinghouse.
Meanwhile, Bulgaria last year decided to continue the expansion of its Kozloduy nuclear power plant using Westinghouse reactors.
Backstory
Energoatom CEO Petro Kotin earlier announced Ukraine's intention to purchase two nuclear reactors from Bulgaria to install at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant. This decision is aimed at compensating for the loss of energy capacity caused by the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant by Russian forces.
Preparation of the site at the Khmelnytskyi nuclear power plant for the installation of the first reactor is scheduled for June, with startup work expected to begin within the next two to three years.
