The European Commission said in a statement that it favors the plans by Bulgaria's Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania (NEK), or National Electricity Company, to build the power plant at Belene, close to the border with Romania.

The new plant complies with the requirements of the EU nuclear agency's Euratom Treaty, the Commission said, adding that the operator had addressed the future costs of decommissioning the plant and the disposal of radioactive waste.

The Commission is also satisfied that the chosen design for Belene "includes various passive safety systems as well as improved protection against external hazards, such as earthquakes and air crashes."

It said it will closely monitor the Belene project, especially its environmental impact.

The construction of the Belene plant has caused controversy as critics say the site lies in a seismic zone. The NEK rejected the warnings, saying it will be safe against earthquakes.

The construction of the plant, comprising two units, is scheduled to start in 2008, and the reactors will be put into use in 2012-13.

Russia's Atomstroy export JSC will act as the main contractor of the 4-billion-euro plant, and a consortium of French company AREVANP and German company Siemens will act as the main sub-contractors.


Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 07 Aralık 2007, 18:09