Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov said that Russia may have problems with realizing the South Stream Gas Pipeline if it demands a €1 billion compensation for cancelling the Belene nuclear power plant construction, Reuters reports.
The power plant was to be built by Atomstroyexport.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expects to get Bulgaria’s approval for the project on November 9 to transport gas to the southern and central parts of Europe.
Ilian Vasiliyev of Innovative Energy Solutions says that Bulgaria cannot both pay the compensation and approve the pipeline construction. Bulgaria is the poorest EU member. Almost all of its gas comes from Gazprom, its only refinery belongs to Lukoil and the only nuclear power plant was built by the USSR.
Sofia promised to compensate the work Atomstroyexport has been carrying out since 2006.
