Ten companies bid to invest in Belene
07 June 2007
Ten companies had reportedly submitted applications by the 6 June deadline to be strategic partners in the construction and operation of the Belene nuclear power plant in Bulgaria. On 2 May, the National Electric Company (NEK) issued an invitation for expressions of interest from investors for a stake of up to 49% in the Belene Power Company, which will be set up to build and operate Bulgaria's second nuclear power plant. NEK will hold a stake of at least 51% in the company. Applications were received from Swiss companies ATEL and EGL, Electricite de France (EdF), Electrabel of Belgium, Spain's Endesa, Enel of Italy, German companies RWE and EOn, CEZ of the Czech Republic, and Bulgarian company Kumerio Med. A shortlist of preferred bidders will now be drawn up from the application. Following a public tender process, NEK selected Russia's AtomStroyExport as contractor for the two 1000 MWe reactors to be built at Belene. Construction work on the first unit will start in 2008 with the unit scheduled to come online by January 2014. The second unit is set to begin operating in January 2015.
Further information
NEK
WNA's Nuclear Power in Bulgaria information paper
WNN: Belene project seeks investors
WNN: Belene site gets regulatory approval
WNN: Russian firm to complete Bulgarian plant