Five European Majors File Bids For Belene Investment
Written by NucNet
Thursday, 18 October 2007
NucNet News No. 225
18 Oct (NucNet): Bulgaria's National Electric Company (NEK) says five
European companies have filed preliminary bids to become strategic
investors in the construction of two Russian-designed VVER-1000 reactor
units at the Belene nuclear power plant.
The companies that filed preliminary offers are Belgium's Electrabel, the Czech Republic's CEZ, E.On and RWE of Germany, and Italy's Enel.
They were among six international majors which Bulgaria invited in July 2007 to bid to acquire up to 49 percent of the Belene Power Company, which will own and operate the reactors. The remaining 51 percent will remain state-owned.
The six companies also included Electricite de France (EDF), which was the only one not to submit an initial offer.
In December 2006, NEK signed an agreement with Russia's Atomstroyexport for the start of initial work on construction of the two VVER-1000 units.
Construction of Belene, on Bulgaria's Danube river border with Romania, originally began in 1986 but was stopped in 1991 when unit one was approximately 65% complete. Original plans were for two Soviet-design VVER-1000 pressurised water reactors with four more units to be added later.
Kozloduy is currently Bulgaria's only operational nuclear power plant. Kozloduy-1, -2, -3 and -4, all Russian-designed VVER-440 units, were shut down as a condition of Bulgaria's entry to the European Union. Only units 5 and 6, both VVER-1000 reactor units with an electrical output of 953 MW each are operational.
Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
First Deadline Nears In Tender Process For Bulgaria's Belene N-Plant (News No. 104, 22 June 2005)
Russia Awarded Contract To Build Units At Bulgaria's Belene Plant (News No. 238, 1 November 2006)
Russia Signs Contract For Start Of Initial Work At Bulgaria's Belene (News No. 258, 5 December 2006)
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