«Any comments are premature»: Ministry of Energy on Bulgaria's refusal to sell reactors for Khmelnytskyi NPP

The Ministry of Energy said that it has not yet received an official position from the Bulgarian government on its refusal to sell nuclear reactors to Ukraine, which are planned to be used to complete the power units of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.

This is stated in a commentary provided to «Suspilne».

They stressed that until there is an official position of the Bulgarian authorities, any comments on this issue «are premature».

«Ukraine is interested in purchasing equipment for the completion of two power units of the Khmelnytskyi NPP in accordance with the decision of the Verkhovna Rada. The completion of Khmelnytskyi NPP is an important project for Ukraine's energy security. We are convinced that the agreement on the purchase of equipment is mutually beneficial for both countries», the agency said.

It should be noted that on 15 April, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Bulgarian Socialist Party Atanas Zafirov said that Bulgaria would not sell equipment from the Belene NPP to Ukraine, which was planned to be used to complete the Khmelnytskyi NPP.

According to him, the decision was supported by all parties in the government. The Deputy Prime Minister explained that Bulgaria needs to develop nuclear energy, especially given the rise in electricity prices in the world.

Earlier it was reported that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a bill that allows the purchase of the necessary equipment for the completion of two power units of the Khmelnytskyi NPP.

As reported, on 11 February, Ukrainian MPs approved the purchase of two Russian nuclear reactors for the Khmelnytskyi NPP. The decision was supported by 261 MPs.

The Russian-made reactors are to be purchased from Bulgaria and will be used to complete units 3 and 4 of the nuclear power plant.

Although the text of the law does not specify the exact amount of the contract, according to «Ekonomichna Pravda», the deal could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The Bulgarian parliament had previously authorised negotiations on the sale of equipment for at least €600 million.

Earlier, experts noted that Khmelnytskyi NPP should be completed, but in their opinion, after the war.

As a reminder, construction of two more units at the nuclear power plant has begun in Khmelnytskyi region. The first cube of concrete for Unit 5 has already been laid.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has adopted a decree «on organisational measures for the construction of Khmelnytskyi NPP units». According to the document, the estimated completion date for the construction and commissioning of two power units at Khmelnytskyi NPP is 2030-2032, although the timing may be affected by the course of military operations.