France's BNP Paribas, recruited by the Bulgarian national power grid operator NEK to finance a new 2 000MW nuclear power plant (NPP) is in talks with candidates for the position of Belene strategic investors, said sources close to the project.

The NPP will be located at the Bulgarian town of Belene, on the Danube river.

The BNP Paribas office in Sofia has not commented on the information, according to Focus news agency.

Six companies have been shortlisted by the NEK to assume 49 per cent stake in the Belene project. The candidates on the short list will be required to submit plans for the project by October 1.

A copy of a memorandum detailing the rights of the private investor in the power station and the rules for its management will be submitted to Italy's Enel, CEZ of the Czech Republic, Germany's RWE and E.ON , France's EDF and Belgium's Electrabel. According to unofficial sources, BNP Paribas and Enel are engaged most seriously in discussions.

The design, equipment delivery, construction and assembly costs for the first year of the Belene project will be financed by the BNP Paribas loan. The construction of the Belene NPP, estimated at around four billion euro. Russia's AtomStroyExport has the commission for the NPP. A final agreement for the project is expected to be signed before the end of 2007.