/ world today news/ It is in Bulgaria’s interest to pay the money for the “Belene” NPP as soon as possible, in order to stop the increase in the debt, which swells by 167,000 euros every day. After that, it can be discussed what to do with the equipment, where to use it, whether to build a plant in Bulgaria or not.
This is what the first deputy general director of the Russian state corporation “Rosatom” Kiril Komarov says.
In an interview with BGNES, he commented on the topic of the “Belene” NPP after the adoption of the special law on payment by NEK after the arbitration case.
According to Komarov, Russia clearly sees the understanding shown by the Bulgarian government: there is a decision of the Arbitration Court, it must be implemented and the money must be paid.
“There is a decision, an amount has been determined according to this decision – 620 million euros, and every day it increases by about 167 thousand euros.
The money must be paid.
At the same time, I think it is absolutely in the interest of the Bulgarian state to pay them as quickly as possible. Because otherwise the counter is ticking and this amount increases every day,” says Komarov.
As for the possibility of restarting the “Belene” NPP, for a new start of the project, Kiril Komarov points out that this is a matter of economic expediency and emphasizes that under no circumstances should talks about a new start of the project be mixed with the topic for the payment of the money based on the decision of the Arbitrator.
“The decision to terminate the project was not ours. We were ready to implement it, under very good conditions for the Bulgarian side. Indeed, it was a long time ago. Since then, life has changed a lot. But then we were ready to fully ensure the financing of this project. We were ready for 6.3 billion euros to build two modern units that correspond to all post-Fukushima standards and EU standards. We were ready to do all this without any guarantees from the Bulgarian government “These were very good conditions. I would say – absolutely exclusive. We have never offered such good conditions to anyone in our lives,” he recalls.
“Since the “Belene” project was terminated, geographically not far away, in a neighboring country – in Turkey, we agreed on the implementation of a project in which we participate with our own money. But, pay attention, there the conditions are completely different. We are building 4 units there and we have a firm guarantee, shaped as an intergovernmental agreement, that the Turkish government will buy the electricity produced by us at a very good price – 12.35 US cents per kilowatt hour. And for a long enough time. Not all electricity will be purchased – 70% from the first two blocks and 30% from the second two. This allows us to have a very clear guarantee that we will recover the money invested in the project.”
Today, in no country in the world is it possible to build a nuclear power plant if the state does not participate in one form or another in guaranteeing at least the return of the money invested by investors in this project, Komarov emphasizes, giving an example of the forms of state participation .
At the time, we thought that by implementing the model we had chosen, every euro invested in the construction of the Belene NPP would provide a minimum of 3-4 euros of income for Bulgarian companies from various sectors of the economy. Is it logical for the state to support such projects? In my opinion, yes, but this decision is taken by the state itself, adds Komarov.
“Let’s assume that the Bulgarian state will be interested in starting this project anew. Let’s assume that investors will be found ready to invest money – something that is absolutely not excluded. But these are decisions for billions and billions of euros. Such decisions no one takes it in one day, nor in one week, nor in one month, and maybe not even in one year. The decision for such an investment must be seriously prepared,” Komarov also points out.
What would be the price of the “Belene” NPP, if in the coming year 2017 “Rosatom” starts implementing this project?
“One thing I can say for sure: the price that was 7 years ago cannot exist today. Because as of today, no one will build a modern nuclear power plant with two 1000-megawatt power units for 6.3 billion euros” – answers Komarov.
“Our Bulgarian colleagues asked us and we confirmed to them that we never in our life refuse to help. Therefore, if a decision is made by the Bulgarian government that the project is resumed, in Belene or in Kozloduy, and a decision is made that it is needed our help to build the plant, and if investors are found to invest money, we have never refused to carry out the work, for example, of the main construction contractor, if this is the desire of the Bulgarian government We are absolutely rational people. We respect every decision of the Bulgarian government. It is not up to us to decide whether to build this plant.” – concludes the first deputy general director of the Russian state corporation “Rosatom” Kiril Komarov on the subject of a possible restart of “Belene”.
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