24.03.2011
JSC Atomstroyexport, the company of the State Corporation Rosatom, is participating in “Atomex-Sofia” Forum of the atomic industry suppliers, which is taking place in the period of March 16-17 in Sofia. The main objective of the event is investigating the possibilities of the Bulgarian suppliers for implementing NPP construction projects under the Russian technologies. “Atomexpo” and “Bulatom” companies with the support of the Bulgarian-Russian Trade Chamber are the organizers of the Forum.
There are more than 200 delegates taking part in the Forum which represent more than 80 leading European companies including Altran, AREVA, NUKEM, Siemens, Worley&Parsons, Wolf Theiss, Bulgarian energy holding, NPP Kozloduy, Bulgarian National electric company as well as the largest Bulgarian companies in the field of atomic machine-engineering sector. The Russian delegation at the Forum is represented by the State Corporation Rosatom, JSC Atomstroyexport, OJSC Atomenergoproject, OJSC Rosenergoatom Concern, the Project Company on Akkuyu NPP construction in Turkey, OJSC SPbAEP, OJSC TVEL and others.
The executive director of the Directorate of nuclear energy complex in the State Corporation Rosatom, the director of OJSC Atomenergoprom, Kirill Komarov noted:
- It goes without saying that the events in Japan will influence the assessment and the development prospects of the global nuclear energy industry in terms of availability of additional safety limits at power units. But there is no alternative to the development of atomic energy and it is acknowledged all over the world. NPP Belene, which we are constructing in Bulgaria, meets the most advanced safety requirements. The site of the plant is ready for construction and within the shortest possible period of time the project can be implemented. The plant complies with all conditions in terms of seismic resistance in the region. We have analyzed the possibility to transfer the reactor to Kozloduy site and consider that it will postpone the construction at least for two-three years. It is too early to speak about the price but it will obviously be substantially higher because Belene site has already have the required infrastructure and the investments have been made unlike Kozloduy where there is nothing at all. In case of giving up the Belene project the funds invested by the Bulgarian Government and the population will be irrevocably lost. And it refers to the amounts up to billions of euros. Currently the negotiations between JSC Atomstroyexport and the Bulgarian NEK are in progress and I believe that all necessary arrangements and agreements will have been reached by the end of March.
The Vice-President of JSC Atomstroyexport, Gennadiy Tepkyan, informed that the project under which Belene plant would be constructed has significant reference in terms of the used equipment, systems and architect-construction decisions. The applicable technologies are based on more than 1400 reactor-years experience of successful NPP operation with VVER reactors, well studied processes, known equipment and justified by full scaled experiments. Besides, NPP Belene project ensures the highest safety level in comparison with previously developed nuclear plant projects – unlike them this is the project of 3+ generation.
According to Gennadiy Tepkyan NPP Belene is an international project created by such leading global companies as Areva NP GmbH, Nukem, GNS, OJSC Atomenergoproject, OJSC OKB Hydropress, OJSC Siloviye mashiny.
- As a result of joint work of these companies, - Gennadiy Tepkyan underlined, - the most advanced and highly efficient safety systems will be applied to NPP Belene. For example, reactor building containment is capable to withstand a hypothetic internal explosion and external loads as a crash of commercial aircraft with a weight of 400 tones. The reactor catcher melt localizer is modernized taking into account the seismic resistance of the region, and seismological and hydrological conditions of site location for NPP Belene construction exclude tsunami. Form the point of view of seismic stability the results of additional hydrological investigations in NPP Belene region conducted in 1998-1999 allow to conclude that there are no traces of active fault under the site and in close vicinity to it that is within 5 km area and along the Dunay river. From this perspective in compliance with IAEA requirements the site is accepted to be suitable for NPP construction.
On the second day the presentations of the Bulgarian companies and Q&A sessions will be held with participation of industry specialists responsible for services and equipment purchasing within the NPP construction projects.
Atomstroyexport has already started the fruitful cooperation with Bulgarian organizations on implementing NPP Belene project. In March 2010 the first contract within NPP Belene construction with the Bulgarian manufacturer, BESTTECHNICA TM Radomir AD was signed. The company is expected to manufacture and deliver two transport locks for the reactor building of two power units at a new Bulgarian power plant. The contracts with Bulgarian subcontractors were being concluded during the whole year of 2010. The contractors of JSC Atomstroyexport include: Geoserviceengineering AD, Eurobuild OOD and others. All together not less than 30% of equipment, works and services supplies will be concentrated in Bulgaria, which ensure significant profit to the companies and organizations in the real sector of country economy. NPP Belene construction will also allow solving the population employment issue: thousands of working places will be created on the construction site and outside of it that is extremely important in conditions of growing import of the working force. According to the statistics for the last 20 years Bulgaria has lost more than a million of employable population. NPP Belene construction will reduce the specialists outflow from the country and will contribute to social and economic development of Bulgaria.
Background information:
In 2005 a tender for NPP construction was announced which was won by JSC Atomstroyexport. In November 29, 2006 an Agreement on NPP Belene construction between NEK EAD and JSC ASE was signed. In 2007 the Russian project was accepted to be in compliance with all relevant EUR technical requirements to NPPs with LWR (light-water reactors) of new generation. In January 18, 2008 the Contract agreement on NPP Belene construction was signed. In January of 2010 NEK EAD after considering positive opinions of independent Bulgarian and international experts approved NPP Belene technical project.
In November 30, 2010 in Sofia the State Corporation Rosatom and NEK EAD signed a Memorandum on principles of Energy Belene Company establishment. This project company will become a legal successor of NEK for further project implementation and the owner of NPP Belene. The initial shareholders of the project company will be Rosatom, participating by means of its subsidiaries, NEK EAD and European investors, which can be attracted by either of the Memorandum parties. Besides, the Memorandums on cooperation in power plant Belene construction and operation were signed between the State Corporation Rosatom, NEK EAD and the project company potential shareholder investors – Fortum company (Finland) and Altran Technologies company (France).
