Forfeits to be paid for Belene NPP project delay

Russia's Atomstroyexport, which won the tender for the construction of the Belene nuclear power plant (NPP) will pay heavy forfeits, if the completion of the project is delayed even by a day, Sergey Shmatko, president of the company said yesterday. If the NPP is completed ahead of schedule Atomstroyexport will receive a bonus, Shmatko said. Atomstroyexport plans to launch procedures for the selection of its Bulgarian subcontractors in late November or early December. The first nuclear reactor, which is to be built by Atomstroyexport will be commissioned after 6.5 years, while the second one will be put to operation a year later, according to the contract.