Sat, Feb 11 2012

German ambassador: Bulgaria's future in alternative energy, not re-starting Kozloduy nuclear reactors

Wed, Feb 04 2009 10:56 CET

byPetar Kostadinov

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German ambassador: Bulgaria's future in alternative energy, not re-starting Kozloduy nuclear reactors

Photo: Anelia Nikolova

Bulgaria had committed itself to shutting down units 3 and 4 of Kozloduy nuclear power plant when it joined the European Union in 2007 and the country was expected to honour this commitment, Bulgarian news agency BTA quoted German ambassador to Bulgaria Michael Gaier as saying.

Geier said that he understood Bulgaria's problems with its energy dependency on Russian deliveries and said that he did not question the country's commitment to nuclear energy, rather its desire to restart Kozloduy's two old units.

The country should put more emphasis on alternative energy sources, such as solar or wind power, for which it was geographically well-placed, Geier said at the opening of the  WDP/Balkan international exhibition of windows, doors and building units at Sofia's Inter Expo Centre.

This was the second statement by the ambassador of a EU member state in Sofia in less than a week on Bulgaria's attempt to restart the two units. On January 28, French ambassador Etienne de Poncins said that the restart of the two units was very unlikely to happen, because Bulgaria would need the approval of each of the other 26 EU member for this move, he said.

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Anonymous S Donovan Fri, Feb 20 2009 11:47 CET
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Yes and I believe that Bulgaria also received millions of Euro to help them close Kozloduy units down safely. You can't agree to one thing one minute, then when you're in do as you want Bulgaria.


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