On October 31, 2006 the National Electric Company (NEK) of the Republic of Bulgaria officially awarded JSC “Atomstroyexport” the tender for the construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant using the Russian design Nuclear Power Plant-92 with two VVER-1000/V-466 power units. On November 29, 2006 the Agreement for the Construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant design was signed.

Signing of the Agreement between the management of JSC “Atomstroyexport” and the National Electric Company of the Republic of Bulgaria for the construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant took place on January 18, 2008 within the framework of the visit of the Russian President to Bulgaria.

On July 10, 2008 the Ministry of Regional Development and Improvement of the Republic of Bulgaria gave official permission for construction.

On July 30, 2008 after signing the Report on the Belene Nuclear Power Plant site opening stage of construction work began.

ABOUT THE DESIGN

The design of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant construction is characterized by unique combination of the active and passive safety systems which provide a higher level of the nuclear power plant protection compared to previous projects. The design of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant enables the provision of high technical and economic parameters due to decreased idle time and increased life-span of the main equipment of up to 60 years, with an increase of installed capacity factor of up to 90 % and possibility of heat production at the nuclear power plant for public utilities. At the nuclear power plant such fuel will be applied which provides maneuvering in a mode of dispatching regulation up to 75–80 % of duration of work of one fuel loading and the maximal burn up depth.

In order to carry out this project “Izhora Works”, ZIO “Podolsk”, the Russian Scientific Center “Kurchatov Institute”, OKB “Gidropress”, Institute “Atomenergoproject” and other leading Russian organizations are participating. Many items of equipment directly influencing the safety level, enhancing its technical and economic parameters will be supplied by the foreign partners of JSC “Atomstroyexport” – companies Areva NP and Siemens AG.

The design of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant construction corresponds to all IAEA recommendations, the international requirements in the field of safety and represents a successful combination of the Russian-European technologies for nuclear mechanical engineering.