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Belene NPP Construction to Get 30 % Costlier

"Belene Nuclear Power Plant (NPP)'s building may turn out 30% more expensive and rise to a 5,2 billion Euro," said in Beijing Irina Esipova, the press secretary of Atomstroyexport, the Russian contractor, which is to build the plant. If this happens, Bulgaria's second nuke would cost 5,2 billion Euro instead of the initially envisaged 4 billion. "There are no grounds yet for such apprehensions. It is too early to talk of a price rise," Esipova said. "It will be not earlier than 2008 that the construction contract for Belene NPP will be signed by the National Electric Company (NEC) and Atomstroyexport," she added. The contract will particularize under what conditions the Russians will be allowed to rise or lower the construction price. For example, one such condition could be more advanced technologies, or more modern construction process, or any other additional requirements the contracting authority NEC might come up with. Atomstroyexport stated that they were ready with the conceptual project and the technical assignment. Contrary to an earlier statement by Esipova that the architects of the state-owned holding Atomenergoprom had worked for 6 months without having been paid due to a delayed payment on the part of Bulgaria. Currently the Russians are working for the advance payment provided by NEC for this year. No earlier than summer-2008 will the Bulgarian Ministry of Public Works and Regional Development issue a building permit for the nuke's construction. Afterwards it will take at least six months for the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency to license Belene NPP. "Nevertheless there should be no apprehensions that there might be a delay. The plant will commence work as it has been planned - in 2014," said Esipova. According to the sources of The Standart, however, the plant's start will be suspended for a year.