The German energy company RWE announced that it would take part in the ongoing tender for strategic partnership in the project for building a 2,000MW nuclear plant in Belene. The deadline for submitting expressions of interest expires on June 6. The state will retain at least 51% of the equity in Nuclear Plant Belene. The plant in Belene will be built by Russia's AtomStroyExport in a partnership with France's Areva and Germany's Siemens. AtomStroyExport has already signed a preliminary contract for engineering, construction and commissioning works valued at some EUR 4bn. The final deal would be endorsed at the end of this year or early next year. The Italian energy company Enel and Germany’s E.ON have officially signalled interests in acquiring stakes in the new power plant. The Czech Electricity Company (CEZ), Electricite de France, Belgium’s Tractebel, Spain’s Iberdrola and Russia’s RAO UES are also expected to take part in the competition.

On a separate note, RWE and the state coal mines Maritsa East will present to the energy and economy ministry a joint project for building a EUR 1bn coal-fired power plant. The Germans will secure investment funds and technological expertise while the local mine will participate with its coal deposits in the project. The two companies have already signed a partnership contract for the project.