Six companies have been shortlisted to take part in a joint venture to build a 7.0-billion-euro (9.5-billion-dollar) nuclear power plant in Bulgaria, Italian press reports said on Tuesday.
Italian energy group Enel has been chosen as well as Electricite de France, the Belgian group Electrabel, Germany power groups EON and RWE, and CEZ of the Czech Republic, Il Corriere della Sera reported, citing company sources.
The companies have until September 24 to present offers to buy a 49-percent stake in the Belene Power Company that will run the power plant. The remaining 51 percent will be owned by Bulgarian electric utility Natsionalna Elektricheska Kompania (NEK).
The nuclear plant is expected to cost 4.0 billion euros to build, while related infrastructure work will add another 3.0 billion euros, the newspapers said.
The construction work will be done by the Russian specialist Atomstroyexport and the plant will be operational in 2013, the daily MF added.
