From Ukraine, there is some interest in the equipment for the Belene NPP, but there are no specifics, stated the Acting Minister of Energy Rosen Hristov in the program “Why, Mr. Minister?” on bTV.
When asked why we will not give the equipment for the Belene NPP to Ukraine, he said that at least there is no decision in the National Assembly. Secondly, for the time being, we have some basic interest from Ukraine, but there are no specifics, so we are very far from giving the equipment to Ukraine or to anyone, added Hristov. According to him, a decision on “Belene” should be made after a full analysis of all possible options.
The energy minister said there was no offer from Ukraine. What I discussed at the meeting with the Minister of Energy of Ukraine is that they have a project at an advanced stage of construction of a nuclear power plant, which in principle is intended to operate with such equipment. They asked if, possibly if we were not going to use it, we would consider selling it, Hristov pointed out. He added that for the moment, since he does not have the complete information, he cannot recommend anything.
The energy minister said that we will ask for derogations for parts to repair our nuclear plant if there are such sanctions against Russia. For the moment, the EC is not discussing sanctions against Russia’s nuclear energy, he pointed out. If sanctions are requested that affect Bulgaria and nuclear energy, and we cannot block them, then we will request a derogation, said Hristov. Naturally, our priority is not to impose such sanctions until the countries that are still dependent on supplies from Russia for parts and services achieve a sufficient level of independence, he added.
Regarding the European Prosecutor’s Office’s inspection of thermal power plants in our country, Minister Hristov said that there is no information that these sites are personally connected to Hristo Kovacki. I don’t have direct information from the European Prosecutor’s Office either, he pointed out. What we also receive as information from the media is that the inspections are related to non-compliance with the rules for reporting carbon emissions, Rosen Hristov added. According to official data, Hristo Kovacki is a consultant for several companies related to heating systems, the minister also said.
When asked why Kozloduy NPP compensated companies related to Kovachki with BGN 25 million, Rosen Hristov explained that it was a matter of a court agreement regarding mutual claims related to electricity trade. After Kozloduy NPP lost the cases in the first instance, a court settlement was reached in the second instance, which several law firms recommended in order to avoid even greater costs, he added.
Hristov announced that the “Varna” TPP is not working, as it has outstanding debts to “Bulgargaz”, but they are facing an agreement to ensure the full payment of the debts, including all interest.
Rosen Hristov said that at the moment they do not envisage financial support and there is no such request from TPP “Maritsa Iztok 2”. At the moment it is working at a profit, we are monitoring the results, he added.
The Minister of Energy announced that, according to the Commercial Register, none of the companies that work with the Kozloduy NPP are owned by persons on the “Magnitsky” list.
I changed the management of the Kozloduy NPP literally the first weeks after I became a minister, precisely on the basis of reports from the services about potential connections of these people with Russia and with corruption schemes, Rosen Hristov also stated.
“Bulgargaz” has not filed an arbitration case against “Gazprom”, the minister also said. He pointed out that they are currently analyzing all options and expect to have a full report from one of the best international law firms at the beginning of April, on the basis of which they can make the right decision.
