Bulgarian PM Enthuisastic about Belene NPP in the US

Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov said that Bulgaria is eager to start building its new Belene NPP during talks with US energy envoy for Eurasia Richard Morningstar.

The two met on Borisov's official trip to the USA to participate in the Millenium Goals discussion at the UN and discussed Bulgaria's participation in strategic energy projects.

Morningstar expressed satisfaction at the level of strategic cooperation and friendly partnership between the USA and Bulgaria.

The two discussed matters such as Bulgaria's participation in the South Stream and Nabucco natural gas pipeline projects, the Belene NPP, the construction of a new reactor to the existing Kozloduy NPP, as well as the interconnections between Bulgaria's and Greece's energy systems.

PM Borisov shared his idea that installments paid by EU member states for Nabucco should not be counted toward the national budget deficits.

He also stated that "Bulgaria is in possession of all permits and might start building Belene NPP as soon as tomorrow," so the country is eagerly looking for a reliable European investor to build the project.

Borisov and Morningstar also discussed the possibilities for the importation of Iraqi natural gas and the extraction of shale gas in Bulgaria as "alternative" sources of gas.