Russia's Atomstroyexport, hired to build a new nuclear power capacity at the Danube town of Belene, should begin on July 30 to dismantle the equipment and other structures on the site of the project mothballed in the early 1990s, Bulgaria's Economy Ministry said.

The deadline is set in the building permit issued to the contractor by the regional development ministry.

The Russian company is in talks to hire a contractor to remove concrete structures on the site that need to be cleared away. Bulgaria's Enemona and Russia's Ovex are contesting the contract.

Bogomil Manchev, chief executive of Bulgarian company Risk Engineering, which is the project architect and engineer in partnership with UK firm Parsons, said that they will insist that Atomstroyexport adhere to a commitment to subcontract 30 per cent of the construction works to local companies.

A dozen Bulgarian companies have already been approved to receive subcontracts on the nuclear project.