Bulgaria’s National Electric Company (NEK) has selected Electrabel and RWE as the finalists in the tender to choose the minority shareholder in the planned Belene nuclear power plant.
The two companies have been invited to continue negotiations to become NEK’s partner in Belene Power Company, which will own and operate the new nuclear power plant.
Belene will consist of two 1000 MW units and will be constructed by Russia’s AtomStroyExport under a EUR4 billion EPC contract. Areva NP and Siemens are subcontractors in the project.
Electrabel of Belgium and Germany’s RWE fought off bids from CEZ, EDF, Endesa, EGL, ATEL, E.ON and Enel in the first phase of the tender. The winning bidder will be able to own up to 49 per cent of Belene Power Company.
The Belene project has been designated as a project of national importance by the Bulgarian governmentd will be the largest single investment in the country for the next 15 years.
