Bulgaria wants to reopen two nuke units

SOFIA — Bulgaria will try to push the European Commission to let it reopen two nuclear reactors closed due to safety concerns.

In an interview with Reuters, energy minister Rumen Ovcharov was adamant that if not, the country will seek to raise the 570 million euros offered by Brussels to help pay for mothballing four of Kozloduy’s six reactors to one billion euros as compensation.

Bulgaria agreed to shut down two 440 MW nuclear reactors at its Kozloduy plant at the end of 2006 ahead of its entry into the bloc on January 1.

Now, using its new EU member status and pointing to reports from the International Atomic Energy Agency that say upgrades have improved safety levels at the plant, Sofia has revived hopes to overcome concern among older EU members and restart the units.

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