President Plevneliev Says Doubtful About Need to Build Second NPP in Bulgaria

Bulgaria’s president Rossen Plevneliev said he is doubtful if Bulgaria needs to build a second nuclear power plant (NPP) even though the country will continue to develop nuclear energy.

"I support a programme of extending the life of Kozloduy NPP’s units Five and Six, and, if necessary, the construction of a 7th unit, but I strongly doubt that a second nuclear power plant, namely the Belene NPP, needs to be built," the president said in an interview for Russian news agency ITAR-TASS. This is a major and costly project that is very risky for Bulgaria, he added.

"Instead of a second nuclear power plant I would like to have a national programme of energy effectiveness," Plevneliev said.
According to Bulgaria’s head-of-state, electric power consumption in the country is already consuming only half the electricity ii has the capacity to generate. In his words, Bulgaria has 14,000 megawatts (MW) of energy capacities with slightly more than 5,000 MW being used.

(Hellenic Business Council in Bulgaria, www.hbcbg.com, 05/02/2014)