FIVE foreign manufacturers have replied to an Energy Ministry questionnaire and have come up with proposals for the construction of Belene nuclear power plant, the Energy Ministry press office announced on Tuesday.
The five companies are Skoda (Czech Republic), Westinghouse (USA), Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Framatom (France) and Atomstroyexport (Russia).
On February 11, Energy Minister Milko Kovachev sent a questionnaire to six manufacturers of pressure water reactors. Only one, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan), failed to reply by the March 31 deadline.
The Energy Ministry will prepare and submit to the Cabinet by the end of the year a proposal for construction of a nuclear power plant, accompanied by an assessment of nuclear safety, radiation protection, environmental impact, physical protection, social and economic significance of the plant's construction, radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel to be generated as well as their management, in compliance with the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy Act. The number, type and capacities of the reactors will then be specified on its basis.
On December 19 last year, the Government decided to resume the construction of Belene plant, which began in 1987, but was suspended three years later under pressure from environmental groups.
The nuclear plant should become operational in 2008, and will cost an estimated $1 billion to build, according to the Government.
So far the state has invested $1.3 billion in infrastructure for the plant. It has bought steam generators and a casing for a 1000-megawatt water pressure reactor from the Czech Republic.
Belene will be the second Bulgarian nuclear plant after Kozlodui. At the moment, Kozlodui generates two-thirds of the country's electricity. Its two oldest reactors, units 1 and 2, were closed in December.
Russia has so far, on several occasions, revealed interest in building the nuclear plant in Belene. However, Russia has not received from the Bulgarian side technical parameters about the nuclear power facility that would be constructed at Belene so that the competent Russian companies could make feasibility studies of the project.
Genady Nefedov, Deputy Head of the International and Foreign Economic Co-operation Department of the Russian Ministry of Nuclear Power Engineering, announced this in February.
Asked about the cost of a new nuclear plant at Belene, Nefedov replied that the type of facility to be constructed should be specified first.
"Generally, international prices per one kilowatt of installed new nuclear facility for a 1000-megawatt WWER equal $1800 to $2000," he said. Nefedov noted, however, that Russian prices were lower than international ones.
According to Nefedov, given that such projects cost millions of US dollars, the Bulgarian Government should furnish a state guarantee about the construction of a new nuclear power facility at Belene.
He said that this issue was likely to be raised by all private companies planning to submit bids for the plant's construction.
The five companies are Skoda (Czech Republic), Westinghouse (USA), Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Framatom (France) and Atomstroyexport (Russia).
On February 11, Energy Minister Milko Kovachev sent a questionnaire to six manufacturers of pressure water reactors. Only one, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan), failed to reply by the March 31 deadline.
The Energy Ministry will prepare and submit to the Cabinet by the end of the year a proposal for construction of a nuclear power plant, accompanied by an assessment of nuclear safety, radiation protection, environmental impact, physical protection, social and economic significance of the plant's construction, radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel to be generated as well as their management, in compliance with the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy Act. The number, type and capacities of the reactors will then be specified on its basis.
On December 19 last year, the Government decided to resume the construction of Belene plant, which began in 1987, but was suspended three years later under pressure from environmental groups.
The nuclear plant should become operational in 2008, and will cost an estimated $1 billion to build, according to the Government.
So far the state has invested $1.3 billion in infrastructure for the plant. It has bought steam generators and a casing for a 1000-megawatt water pressure reactor from the Czech Republic.
Belene will be the second Bulgarian nuclear plant after Kozlodui. At the moment, Kozlodui generates two-thirds of the country's electricity. Its two oldest reactors, units 1 and 2, were closed in December.
Russia has so far, on several occasions, revealed interest in building the nuclear plant in Belene. However, Russia has not received from the Bulgarian side technical parameters about the nuclear power facility that would be constructed at Belene so that the competent Russian companies could make feasibility studies of the project.
Genady Nefedov, Deputy Head of the International and Foreign Economic Co-operation Department of the Russian Ministry of Nuclear Power Engineering, announced this in February.
Asked about the cost of a new nuclear plant at Belene, Nefedov replied that the type of facility to be constructed should be specified first.
"Generally, international prices per one kilowatt of installed new nuclear facility for a 1000-megawatt WWER equal $1800 to $2000," he said. Nefedov noted, however, that Russian prices were lower than international ones.
According to Nefedov, given that such projects cost millions of US dollars, the Bulgarian Government should furnish a state guarantee about the construction of a new nuclear power facility at Belene.
He said that this issue was likely to be raised by all private companies planning to submit bids for the plant's construction.
