Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov wants a referendum on the shelved Belene nuclear project and an actualisation of the Budget, while Prime Minister Boiko Borissov said that in principle he does support the construction of Belene, Bulgarian media reported on June 18 2010.

Only last week, Borissov told EU ambassadors in Sofia that Bulgaria would withdraw permanently from the Bourgas-Alexandropoulis gas pipeline project, and that Bulgaria would indefinitely suspend construction of the Belene nuclear power station because it was uncertain when there would be a return on the investment.

However, on June 18, Borissov was reported as saying that he would support the construction of the nuclear plant only of there were coherent financial parameters for the project and a sound basis for return on investment, bTV said.

Experts in the field have said that in order for the project to be implemented, several "strategic partners" are needed.

"The cost must be reduced. I am certain that we can construct the plant for less money than stated, and execute it in such way that we can sell the electricity afterwards as well," Borissov told bTV.

"For the moment, I reckon that the Russians are understanding about our concerns" he said. Borissov estimates that the total cost of the construction of the nuclear plant can be slashed by as much as 300 million euro.

Earlier this week,fears that relationships between Bulgaria and Russia might sour because of Sofia's decision to pull out of the energy projects were dissipated by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Nikolai Mladenov.

"Relations between Bulgaria and Russia are excellent, based on extensive mutual co-operation, and not exclusively on one particular energy project," Mladenov said.

Bulgaria media reports after the decision to withdraw from the project said that the real loser in the deal would be Greece. Reports claimed that Bulgaria and Russia wanted nothing to do with the pipeline and were waiting to see who would back out first.

But Borissov was adamant that he would not put Bulgaria into any further debt over the project, regardless of how necessary it is for the country.

"I will not do what the former government did and and burden Bulgaria with further obligations. This is a European project, part of the European energy security plan. I have nothing against the Russians, but this costs money – and this is our money," he said.

Meanwhile, the decision to scrap the construction of the Bourgas-Alexandroupoulis pipeline is final and according to reports, it will not be subject to a review. The decision was taken because of staunch resistance from residents of the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Bourgas and the surrounding region, Borissov said.