Three foreign companies show interest in research and exploration of uranium deposits in Bulgaria.

The companies were Canadian Cameco Corporation and Resources House and Russian TVEL, IntelliNews Today said.

Bulgaria's uranium deposits contain 10 000 to 12 000 tonnes of uranium. Extraction is relatively expensive because the deposits are located in different regions of the country.

Exploration of deposits could “offer additional value” to the Belene nuclear power plant project, IntelliNews Today said.

Bulgaria closed all its uranium mines in 1992 because the country lost its position on the uranium market in Russia and the extraction technologies used threatened the environment.

If Bulgaria's government approved uranium mining, the investors will have to introduce new drilling technologies with low environment risks.