"We will focus on the issue of discussing the construction of the nuclear power plant in Belene," he said.
According to the source, this is an old project some $1 billion was invested in, which was suspended for a long time.
The Bulgarian side has announced a tender for the station's construction completion, and the results will be announced in early 2005. According to the source, Atomstroiexport has good chances to win the tender.
In his words, here, Russia works in consortium with the French-German company, while Vnesheconombank together with French and German banks is working out an advantageous scheme of the project financing.
Besides, the Russian delegation intends to discuss participation of Russian companies in privatization of big thermoelectric power stations in Bulgaria, in particular, Rousse, Varna, Bobov Dol.
Here, in the source's words, RAO UES is showing interest, but the privatization terms suggested by the Bulgarian side must be transparent so that RAO UES could participate on a common basis. Besides, there is an interest in the reconstruction of large power plants, which were built according to Soviet technologies, added the source.
The sides will also discuss the project of building the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline bypassing Black Sea straits. According to the source, a relevant memorandum was prepared, but hasn't been signed yet; there are a number of problems with the development of the feasibility study.
"We would like the Bulgarian side to seek some possibilities to improve the project support, including thanks to tax and customs benefits," said the source. In his words, the cost of the project is preliminarily assessed at $700 million. In case Bulgaria fails to render the necessary support, the project will be economically inefficient, said the source.
In his words, the Russian Transneft company has already said it is ready to participate in a similar project proposed by Turkey. The Turkish project is two times cheaper, said the source. The source did not rule out that Russia would manage to talk the Bulgarian side into signing the memorandum, and the sides would be able to start realizing the project.
