Nuclear energy in China

Bulgaria is looking for a strategic investor into an expansion of nuclear capacities, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has told a committee in Parliament.

She has explained there is certain interest from China in getting involved in Bulgaria's nuclear sector.

US-based Westinghouse Electric Company said on Thursday it agreed to discuss a new timetable and structure of the project to build Unit 7 of Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear plant.

Westinghouse CEO Danny Roderick said the decision had been taken "jointly by all parties and reflects the present conditions in Bulgaria of support for an infrastructure project of such a scale."

Bulgaria is only ready to work on the agreement with Westinghouse Electric for unit 7 of the Kozloduy NPP provided that the company participates in the project as an investor, according to Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.

Borisov made clear Wednesday in Parliament that Bulgaria could not afford to implement the project unless US Westinghouse Electric joined the scheme as an investor.

US-based nuclear power company Westinghouse estimated that the electricity produced by unit 7 of Bulgaria's Kozloduy NPP will cost between USD 75 and 84, if it constructs its AP1000 plant there.

US-based Westinghouse Electric Company has presented a project for the expansion of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant to the Bulgarian representatives at the European Parliament and to EU policy specialists.

The main topics of the meeting were the advantages of the Westinghouse AP1000 technology and the plans for the construction of unit 7 of the Kozloduy NPP.

US-based Westinghouse Electric Company has signed memoranda of understanding with three Bulgarian companies advancing the building of Kozloduy NPP Unit 7's reactor.

In an official message Westinghouse said the Bulgarian-owned entities were EnergoService Ltd., ENPRO CONSULT Ltd. and OSKAR-EL Ltd.