EU nuclear project using Russian reactor sparks fury as Putin’s threatens to cut energy

EU: Bulgarian MEP says Charles Michel should be 'ashamed'

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Bulgaria, which relies on Russia for 70 percent of its gas supplies, uses Russian fuel in its nuclear reactors at the Kozloduy power plant. But plans to set up a new plant in Belene has been a contentious issue for years. It would involve building a plant near the Danube island of Belene using two Russian nuclear reactors.

But the project has been pitting the pro-Russian Bulgarian Socialist Party against the pro-EU ‘Change Continues’ group.

The two Russian nuclear reactors have already been delivered to Bulgaria.

But using the reactors would mean taking orders from Russian state-owned company Rosatom.

Julian Popov, a fellow of the European Climate Foundation, told EURACTIV that no serious expert would support Belene.

He said: “The Belene project has two main problems – cost and time.

“It will not be able to secure production at market price or even close to market price, and it will not be ready before a significant hole appears in the Bulgarian energy system.

“This hole will be filled quickly by others, cleaner and significantly cheaper energy technologies.”

Prime Minister Kirill Petkov has claimed twice before that Bulgaria will not build the plant, despite having had nuclear fuel ready for two years.

Now, experts have urged Mr Petkov to come out with a long-term decision.

Mr Petkov was hit with backlash by the pro-Russain socialist party, prompting him to launch a fresh analysis of the viability of building the plant.

Also backing the project is the pro-Russian far-right Vazrazhdane party, which supports Bulgaria’s exit from the EU and NATO.

This also comes as tensions between Ukraine have been soaring after reports emerged that 150,000 Russian troops were stationed around the country’s borders.

Ukraine too has pro-Russian groups who wish to distance themselves from Europe and the EU, with separatist groups having been involved in an ongoing conflict with the Government for years.

Bulgarian negotiators have explored whether it can use US nuclear fuel at the current Kozloduy power plant instead of Russia’s.

This comes after fears that Russia could cut off the EU’s energy supplies in response to harsh sanctions the West has threatened to slap down if it invades Ukraine.

Mr Petkov said on February 4: “You know, in the growing conflict between NATO and Russia, we have a high risk of potential sanctions and potential uncertainty in gas supplies.

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“At the same time, the plan we found included a gas-fired power plant that would reduce Bulgaria’s energy independence,”

EURACTIV reports that the Bulgarian Government appears to be considering the benefits of using American-built small modular reactors

“Democratic Bulgaria” (DB), also a pro-European party in Bulgaria, has insisted on limiting the cost of building new nuclear units for the conservation of the two Russian reactors.

The Belene nuclear power plant has already been halted twice before and has cost Bulgaria millions of euros.

Bulgaria joined NATO back in 2004 and became a member of the EU in 2007.

As a precondition for starting negotiations to join the EU, Bulgaria agreed to close four older reactors at the nuclear plant at Kozloduy back in 1999.

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski, told Euronews: “Bulgaria is often accused of strong energy dependence on Russia, but there are no other available energy sources in our region.”

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