Nuclear News

Euro MP says forced closure of Bulgarian reactors 'a mistake'

Jan 2, 2007, 16:36 GMT

Sofia - The decision by the European Parliament to force Bulgaria to shut down two reactors at the nuclear power plant at Kozloduy on the Danube was 'a mistake,' the rapporteur on Bulgaria for the parliament said Tuesday.

Speaking in Sofia, Geoffrey van Orden said the issue of nuclear energy would become more urgent in the years ahead.

Immediately before accession to the European Union at the beginning of this year, Bulgaria shut down two refurbished reactors, each putting out 440 megawatts, on the instructions of the European Parliament, which cited safety grounds.

'We do not want to be dependent on energy sources in Russia or on unstable regions of the Middle East,' said Van Orden, a member of the British Conservative Party.

He stressed that the problem of securing Europe's energy supply needed to be solved.

Van Orden did not exclude the possibility of further debate over Kozloduy, but added that he was not optimistic the two reactors could be recommissioned.

Bulgaria committed itself to closing down two reactors at Kozloduy as part of the conditions for EU membership. Kozloduy originally had six reactors, of which only two are now operating.

As a result the country, previously the largest electricity exporter in the Balkans, has halted its exports of electricity to neighbouring countries.