Boris Shmelev, Director of Center for Political Studies of Economics Institute of RAS

– The permission for the construction of Belene NPP granted to Atomstroyexport can be regarded as the starting point of the project

Our victory in an open tender for the construction of Belene NPP in Bulgaria, a NATO and EU member state, has proved that the Russian NPP construction technologies are generally accepted and highly ranked on the world market. This is the achievement of Atomenergoprom and whole Russia.

Today, the parties to the project are moving from words to actions: the permission for the construction of Belene NPP granted to Atomstroyexport can be regarded as the starting point of the project.

Now we must do our best to comply with the terms of the contract and to build an NPP meeting all international standards. We must understand that NPP construction is not only economic-financial but also geo-political project. The Belene project will certainly strengthen Russia’s position in the Balkans and Europe.

Our partnership with Areva and Siemens under this project will give us serious opportunities to promote our technologies on the rather closed European market. If we successfully integrate in the European industrial chain, we will gain additional competitive advantages.