/ world today news/ Bulgaria and Russia have signed an agreement on the repayment of the debt for the Belene NPP project in accordance with the decision of the International Court of Arbitration in Geneva, Bulgarian Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petkova announced after a meeting with the Director General of Rosatom Kiril Komarov , reports “Vzglyad” on Wednesday (October 26).
“NEC undertakes to pay the full amount of the obligation under the arbitration decision by December 15. In exchange, the Russian company “Atomstroyexport” renounces its claims to the interest that has been accumulating since mid-June and which amounts to 23 million euros. In addition to the simplified interest, NEK will also save another 20.9 million euros from the corrections determined by the arbitration, in connection with their dispute on the Bulgarian side. Thus, Bulgaria will save nearly 90 million leva,” explained Minister Temenuzka Petkova.
She noted that the event is extremely important, as today’s agreement closes a page that created problems in bilateral relations in the field of energy. “I dare to say that with today’s agreement we have really achieved success for both sides,” said Minister Petkova.
Bulgaria must pay 620 million euros for the two Russian reactors for “Belene” after unilaterally ending the implementation of the project. In addition, the country owed us interest in the amount of 167 thousand euros per day.
Until December 5, Bulgaria will be able to see and inspect the equipment produced for “Belene”, promised Kiril Komarov. This obligation of the Russians is also part of the agreements.
“This year we are celebrating an anniversary – 50 years of Bulgarian-Russian relations in nuclear energy, Komarov also said. The important thing is that even during the arbitration dispute we continued to supply fuel to the Kozloduy NPP and to continue the important life extension project on the 5th reactor with another 30 years. This is especially important because we are practically giving a second life to this unit that was designed to work for 30 years. We have now presented documents that prove that it can work for another 30 years “, said the general director of Rosatom.
“I am convinced that we have many more years of fruitful cooperation ahead of us,” he pointed out.
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