The chair of Iran's atomic energy agency has made clear his country is
exploring a proposal from Bulgaria, which wants to resell unused equipment
"at a good price".
His country does not intend to purchase "used" nuclear reactors from
Bulgaria, but the proposal refers to the nuclear plant equipment that has
already been built by Atomstroyexport, Rosatom's exports arm.
Mehr News Agency quotes him as saying that the Belene nuclear plant project was
cancelled by Bulgaria "due to financial crisis."
"This claim is completely false since nuclear reactors cannot become
‘second-hand’ to begin with," he has added in response to rumors that
Tehran considers taking used nuclear reactors.
Iran is currently working to expand its nuclear plant in Bushehr, a project it
is working on with Russia.
The country has not yet officially refused to purchase the Bulgarian
reactor.
Bulgaria, on the other hand, will receive the equipment and reactor built by Atomstroyexport
in return for paying EUR 550 M - the sum determined by a court of arbitration
in June.
Since being informed of the ruling, Sofia has been looking for a "third
country" that could buy the equipment it does not need, referring mostly
to Iran and India.
A visit of a Bulgarian delegation to Tehran last week included talks on a
possible deal, with no concrete agreement reached.
(www.novinite.com)
