The board of directors of the National Electricity Company has selected Belgium ’s Electrabel and Germany ’s RWE Power as best bidders in the competition for 49% of the company set to administer construction works and operate a 2,000MW nuclear plant in Belene. The two candidates are thus admitted to the second and final stage of the tender and will hold direct negotiations with the National Electricity Company before submitting final offers. The National Electricity Company is expected to name the winner by the middle of the year but no specific deadlines or bidding rules are officially announced for the second stage of the tender. In addition to the acquisition price terms, the winner is expected to secure long-term arrangements for electricity supplies of the nuclear power producer. Three other candidates have been put in the initial shortlist but will not continue the race -- Czech Electricity Company (CEZ), Germany ’s E.ON, and Italy ’s Enel. Russia ’s AtomStroyExport has already won a EUR 4bn contract to supply and install the two power reactors of the plant. The first unit of the nuclear plant is expected to start operations in early 2014 and the second one in 2015.