06.07.2011
In Sofia (Bulgaria) a Supplement 13 to the Agreement on construction of Belene NPP dated 29.11.2006 was signed between the National Electric Company EAD (NEC EAD) and Atomstroyexport JSC (ASE JSC), a company of Rosatom State Corporation. The Supplement 13 extends the term of the Agreement until September 30, 2011.
In addition, in the Supplement 13 the Parties agreed, that successful development of the Belene NPP project depended on its appropriate budgeting. Atomstroyexport JSC bounded itself to assist NEC EAD in establishing of Financial Operating Group (as well as during further discussions) with the prospect shareholders of the Engineering Company of Belene NPP. In order to prevent any doubts, the negotiations on the EPC Contract are to be generally continued upon the given Supplement.
For now, the whole scope of work for the preparation of the foundation for the beginning of the construction of the plant’s first unit at the Belene NPP site is completed; the concrete plant has been put into operation; the construction of the purification facilities has been completed; construction and geotechnical laboratories have been equipped; drilling activities and geological survey of the site have been implemented.
The technical project of Belene NPP was approved at the technical meeting of NEC EAD of Bulgaria and submitted to the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency. Experts of Bulgaria, the Russian Federation, Germany, the USA, Great Britain, the South African Republic (SAR), as well as of the IAEA were involved in the overall examination of the Russian project. According to the experts’ report, the Belene project was rated as the nuclear power plant of the new generation 3+ and ensured much higher level of safety, which complied with all international requirements.
Within the Belene NPP construction the orders have been placed at the Russian, European and Bulgarian manufacturing plants and the production of the equipment with the long-term manufacturing cycle is in the process. Not less than 30% of the supplies of equipment, works and services are to be centralized in Bulgaria, which will bring the substantial profit to the enterprises and organizations of the real sector of the country’s economy. Construction of Belene NPP will also help to improve the employment situation: dozens of thousands of working places shall be established at the construction site and beyond, which is a quite important factor in connection with the growing import of labour. The construction of Belene NPP will make it possible to reduce the flow-out of experts and will contribute to the social and economical development of the country.
Reference:
The tender for construction of Belene NPP had been called for in 2005, the successful bidder of which became Atomstroyexport JSC. On November 29, 2006 the Agreement on construction of Belene NPP was signed between NEC EAD and ASE JSC. In 2007 the Russian project was recognized to be in compliance with all the technical requirements of EUR to the light water reactors of the new generation. On January 18, 2008 the Contract Agreement on construction of Belene NPP was signed. In January 2010 after consideration of the positive reports of the independent international and Bulgarian expert organizations, NEC AED approved the technical design of Belene NPP and submitted it for consideration in the NRA of the Republic of Bulgaria by the official channel.
On November 30, 2010 in Sofia Memorandum of the principles of Belene Engineering Company establishment was signed between Rosatom State Corporation and NEC EAD. This Engineering Company will be the legal successor of NEC EAD for further implementation of the project, as well as the owner of Belene NPP. Initial shareholders of the Engineering Company will be Rosatom, participating via its affiliates, NEC EAD and the European investors – companies Fortum (Finland) and Altran Technologies (France). Also, Memorandums of Cooperation in Belene NPP construction and operation were signed between Rosatom State Corporation, NEC EAD, Fortum and Altran Technologies.
