Five companies filed indicative offers for the acquisition of a 49 per cent stake in the company to build and operate Bulgaria's second nuclear power plant at Belene, Bulgaria's power grid operator, the NEC, announced.

The deadline for submission of offers expired on October 17.

The five suitors were Electrabel of Belgium, CEZ of the Czech Republic, Enel of Italy and E.ON and RWE of Germany.
Contrary to expectations, Electricite de France refrained from filing an offer, sources close to the tender said.

Another four companies, Spain's Endesa, Cumerio Med, Belgian-owned copper producer and EGL and ATEL of Switzerland, have also expressed interest but for a smaller than 25 per cent shareholding. For this reason, NEC would open negotiations with the said companies on flop with the five utility companies.

The evaluation procedure would go according to a checklist, which includes compliance to all tender criteria and availability of bank guarantees. Suitors' offers would also be juxtaposed in terms of willingness to buy electricity from Belene, what quantities and over what timeframe, and whether it would be destined for domestic use or export.