OREANDA-NEWS. August 18, 2011. Proceeding from the results of review of the Technical Design of Belene NPP, the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency picked out 114 recommendations necessary for considering before approval of the Technical Design. By now Atomstroyexport JSC provided BNRA with answers to all questions of interest.

In January, 2010 the Technical Board of the National Electric Company of Bulgaria (NEK EAD) approved the Technical Design of Belene NPP, including the Intermediate Safety Analysis Report  (ISAR) and the Probabilistic Safety Analysis (PSA). After approval the documents were handed over for review to the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency.

In September, 2010 the discussions concerning the Intermediate Safety Analysis Report for Belene NPP took place at the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency with participation of experts from the European company “Riskaudit”, the Bulgarian consultant “Enpro-Consult” and those from the Russian organizations.

 In October, 2010 in Sofia IPSART mission of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with participation of experts from the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency, NEK EAD, WorleyParsons and the Russian organizations reviewed the Probabilistic Safety Analysis of Belene NPP.

On the whole experts from Bulgaria, Russia, Germany, the USA, Great Britain, the Republic of South Africa, and also from IAEA were involved in comprehensive study of the Russian design. According to the experts’ conclusion, Belene design belongs to the new generation of 3plus nuclear plants and provides much higher safety level, which conforms to all international requirements. The Russian design was recognized as conforming to all EUR technical requirements to the light water NPPs of new generation.

In 2005 the tender was invited for Belene NPP construction, and Atomstroyexport JSC was awarded the contract. On November 29, 2006 the Agreement between NEK EAD and ASE JSC was signed on Belene NPP construction. In 2007 the Russian design was recognized as conforming to all EUR technical requirements to the light water NPPs of new generation. On January 18, 2008 the Contract Agreement for Belene NPP construction was signed. 

 State Atomic Energy Corporation “Rosatom” (State Corporation “Rosatom”) unites more than 270 enterprises and scientific organizations, among which there are all civil nuclear companies of Russia, enterprises of nuclear weapons complex and unique worldwide nuclear icebreaking fleet. State Corporation "Rosatom" is the largest power generating company in Russia which provides more than 40 % of electric power in the European part of the country. Rosatom holds the leading position in the world market of nuclear technologies, occupies the first place in the world by quantity of NPPs simultaneously constructed worldwide in the foreign countries, the second place in the world by uranium reserves and the fifth place in the world by volume of mining, and also the fourth place in the world by nuclear electric power generation, provides 40 % of the world market services on uranium enrichment,

 and 17 % of the nuclear fuel market.

Director General of State Corporation “ Rosatom is Serguey Kirienko.