Bulgaria’s National Electrical Company (NEC) has decided to let all bidders to build Belene nuclear power plant (NPP) advance to the next stage of the tender.

The bidders were divided to two groups, Focus news agency reported.

The first group includes the companies wanting to acquire directly or through a consortium up to 49 per cent of the future company that will build and operate Belene NPP. The applicants are the Czech Republic’s CEZ, the UK’s EDF, Germany’s E.ON, Belgium’s Electrabel, Italy’s ENEL and Germany’s RWE.

The other group includes companies that want to acquire directly or in consortium shares in the future company totalling less than 25 per cent of the company. Spain’s Endesa, Switzerland’s EGL, Belgium’s Cumerio Med and Switzerland’s ATEL make up this group.

Only the bidders from the first group would be allowed to do a technical and economic analysis of the project and to present their offers by October 1 2007, Focus said.

The second group of companies may be invited to negotiations if needed.