The stages in the implementation of Belene NPP Project are: selection of a consultant and providing financing, design, preliminary activities on site and production of long-lead equipment.

Selection of a consultant and providing financing:

After RWE’s withdrawal from the project in October 2009, BEH in the beginning of 2010 started a procedure for selection of a consultant who is to assist the holding in attracting new foreign investors to the project. It is expected the new investor(s) to be selected by the end of the year. Then it is to become clear what the state’s share in the project will be.

Design:

After eliminating the remarks made to the initial revision of the document, the Technical Design of Belene NPP is undergoing a review and approval procedure by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency.

In the end of January 2010 the Technical Design, developed by the main designer “Atomenenergoproekt”, was approved at a meeting of NEK Technical Council, including the Intermediate Report on Substantiating Safety and the Probabilistic Analysis of Safety. The positive conclusions made by independent Bulgarian and international expert organizations were taken into consideration when taking the decision. The minutes of meeting of the Technical Council comprises a condition that all the remarks and comments of NEK EAD and NRA as well as those of the independent experts are to be adequately addressed and the recommendations to be taken into account when developing the final revision of the Technical Design. The next step is related to obtaining a construction permit by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency and developing working documentation.

Production of equipment for Belene NPP

Addendum 5 to the Agreement from 2006 was signed on November 5^th 2008 to arrange the relations with the main contractor concerning the order and manufacturing of long lead equipment.  The Addendum includes the main equipment (reactor installation, steam generators, passive safety systems, reloading machine, polar crane, port crane, turbine installation, etc.) for Units 1 and 2 of Belene NPP

Site preparation activities:

Addendum 3 to the Agreement from 2006 was signed on June 10^th 2008. Construction permit for Units 1 and 2 of Belene NPP, entered into force on July 30^th 2008, practically enabled the launch of activities from stage: site preparation for the new nuclear equipment. Preparation activities started on August 1^st after a Protocol for determining the construction line was signed. The selected by Atomstroyexport Bulgarian subcontractors mobilized in due course the required machinery and personnel, and the demonstrated pace and efficiency of work implementation made it possible deadlines for dismantling of the old equipment to be met.

Dismantling of the existing equipment and civil structures, which are not subject to integration into the new project, have been 100 % implemented and paid .

For the period July 2008 – September 30^th 2009  totally 150 243 m³ of reinforced concrete structures have been dismantled, cut, fragmented and transported; 20573,96 tons of metal  - dismantled, extracted and utilized  and 107 246 m³ of excavation works – implemented.

In the links below you can see the progress of site preparation activities by trimesters and their correlation to the total volume of work.

Activities as of December 2008. Panoramic shots from dismantling of civil structures can be seen here.

Activities as of March 2009. Panoramic shots March 2009.

Activities as of June 2009. Panoramic shots June 2009.