The European Union gave the OK for the nuclear project between Moscow and Sophia after a thorough review by experts who found that the Russian project meets the European EUR standards. These standards are basically the same as those of the IAEA, but not entirely identical. The European Union's say-so means that the full complement of legal documents has been obtained and the Russian company Atomstroyexport has left the paperwork stage behind.

Under the European Atomic Energy Community Treaty (Euratom) Bulgaria had to notify the European Commission's Directorate-General for Energy and Transport about the Belene project, which the country signed on the eve of its admission to the European Union (Nov. 29, 2006). The European Union's acceptance might have been routine except for the symbolic importance the Bulgarian project has for Russia. By winning a prestigious tender Russia is back in the European market of nuclear plant construction after a long pause that began in the Soviet times.

The Belene nuclear plant is Russia's first project in the European Union. Atomstroyexport was competing for the contract against powerful Western corporations including the Czech Skoda, the Japanese Toshiba and Westinghouse, an Anglo-American consortium.

It was an uphill struggle. The Bulgarians had invited more than 200 experts from eight countries, including such premier-league consultants as Parsons and Deloitte Central Limited, to examine the project. However, it became clear early on that Russia offered the most attractive model, the most effective technology, the safest, cheapest and most durable (guaranteed to operate for 60 years).

The tender review panel that sifted off bids picked two front-runners, Atomstroyexport and Skoda. The favorites were presented with further requirements that called for modifications to the original bids. The Bulgarians wanted the impossible: cutting construction time and costs even further. But Russia stood strong as it had no intention of building at a loss. At one point Moscow got tired of Sophia's dithering and began to lose interest. Eventually, the Bulgarians had to admit that the Russian advantages were overwhelming.

What has Russia offered? The best that it has today -- the AES-92 project that meets the highest world standards. It is based on two new-generation VVER-1000 reactors (water-water 1,000 megawatt energy reactor); modernized, very safe, reliable and efficient.

The Belene project has a unique combination of active and passive safety systems that ensure the highest possible level of protection.

The designers foresaw the worst-case scenarios, such as a sudden power blackout, fracture of the reactor body and even a plane falling on top of the building. The plant has a double protective shell, the inner made from steel and the outer from reinforced concrete. The most intriguing part of the safety system is the molten-core catcher, an original Russian idea.

The project will cost Bulgaria 2.6 billion euros compared with the alternative Czech bid of 3 billion euros. The Russians were able to charge less because the Belene construction site is a former Soviet project that was shut down in 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. By that time 40 percent of the construction work had been completed and 60 percent of the equipment had been delivered.

The first Belene reactor is to be built within 5-5.5 years. That will allow Bulgaria to regain its energy security after the European Union ordered the Kozloduy nuclear units to be shut down. The Belene nuclear power plant will enable Bulgaria to resume exporting electricity.

(Tatyana Sinitsyna is a commentator for RIA Novosti. The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti. This article was published with permission from RIA Novosti.)

(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of important issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)

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