Bulgaria’s Kozloduy nuclear power plant (NPP) has been among the most dangerous ones in Europe for ages.

Failures often occurred in its reactors and Bulgaria and foreign ecologist used to call for the plant’s closure, German newspaper Handelsblatt said.

Bulgaria agreed to switch off four of the units of the six-reactor NPP under EU pressure. The last two units will probably continue functioning until 2010.

Kozloduy plays an important role in meeting the power needs of Bulgaria and the region, Handelsblatt said. Albania suffered the most from the unit closure as the country lost 40 per cent of its electricity supply and is experiencing its most severe energy crisis after the end of the communist rule.

Electricity supply in Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro decreased by 30 per cent. Greece will probably suffer energy crisis in the summer.

Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Sergei Stanishev seemed more inclined to keep the units closed, Handelsblatt said, while other ministers lobbied abroad for the reactors’ revival.

Economy and Energy Minister Roumen Ovcharov requested re-consideration from the European Commission (EC). The EC’s answer was negative, but the commission seemed to be ready for a discussion on electricity supply on the Balkans.

An agreement for the setting up of energy community in Southeastern Europe, signed in 2005, will be the basis for discussion, Handelsblatt said. The lack of financial and technical means, as well as political initiative, hinders the contract implementation.