A corruption scheme has been revealed in the purchase of materials after dismantling works at Belene NPP, Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov said. The National Electric Company (NEK) is the selling party, while VDK 1 OOD – the buyer. The materials have been sold out through the Sofia Commodity Exchange. The deal was realized at BGN 160 per ton of scrap, as the transport and movement of the materials to the companies in the towns of Pernik and Eadomir has been deducted and thus the price was set at BGN 110 per ton of scrap. Stomana Industry and Radomir Metal companies have purchased similar scrap at the price of BGN 284 – 304/ton. Evrometal OOD, has realized the deal from VDK but at a twice higher price – BGN 280.
Rough calculations show that the total loss caused by the scheme amounts to about BGN 1 million.
Meanwhile Russian Minister of Economy and Energy Sergei Smatko said Moscow is ready to discuss Bulgaria’s proposal for investments in Belene NPP in case the state stake in the project is sold. The issue raised many commentaries in Bulgaria.


Belene NPP- corruption scheme, will for investment (ROUNDUP)
A corruption scheme has been revealed in the purchase of materials from dismantling works on Belene NPP, Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov said
The corruption scheme that drains Bulgarian taxpayer’s money has been established during a joint operation of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Transport.
The company that makes the evaluation - Mini Consult – M Ltd., with managing director L.H., was not present at the construction site at the time when the contract for evaluation was signed.
The national power grid operator NEK is the selling part, while VDK 1 Ltd. is the buyer. The materials have been sold through Sofia commodity exchange.
Rough calculations show that the total damage caused by the scheme amounts to about BGN 1 million. The papers and materials would be sent to the prosecutor's office.
Meanwhile Russian Minister of Economy and Energy Sergei Smatko said Moscow is ready to discuss Bulgaria’s proposal on investments in Belene NPP in case the state stake in the project is sold. This has caused comments in Bulgaria as well.
Check up
A corruption scheme has been revealed in the purchase of materials from dismantling works on Belene NPP, Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov said, as quoted by a reporter of FOCUS News Agency.
The corruption scheme that drains Bulgarian taxpayer’s money has been established during a joint operation of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Transport, Tsvetanov explained.
The company that makes the evaluation - Mini Consult – M Ltd., with managing director L.H., was not present at the construction site at the time when the contract for evaluation was signed.
The national power grid operator NEK is the selling part, while VDK 1 Ltd. is the buyer. The materials have been sold through Sofia commodity exchange.
Rough calculations show that the total damage caused by the scheme amounts to about BGN 1 million. The papers and materials would be sent to the prosecutor's office.
Other similar contracts would also be checked.
"The report on the check of the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) to the national power grid operator NEK has not been discussed within the Board of Directors in BEH. If the deal for selling scrap from old equipment of Belene NPP is not included in the report, which according to the interior ministry’s data has defrauded NEK with about BGN 1 million, it will be checked," said Tencho Popov, member of the Board of Directors of BEH.
In his words, there are partial results from the check and the data would be announced immediately after being discussed by the Board and after decisions are taken on the issue.
Russia to invest in Belene NPP?
Subject on Belene NPP has been discussed in Russia as well but from other point of view-Russia’s investments in the nuclear power plant. Russian Minister of Economy and Energy Sergei Smatko said Moscow could buy package of Belene NPP assets in Bulgaria.
“We have heard the position of Bulgarian government, which can sell its share (51%) of the nuclear power plant. We are interested in such proposal because as investors we are interested in the control on expanses,” Smatko said.
The minister did not mentioned what percentage of assets and through which state companies could be bought.
There has been no project on nuclear power plant in which the country has no certain engagements, mostly because it is about safety and political pressure," said former head of the working group on Belene NPP project Ivan Atanasov, speaking to FOCUS News Agency.
In his words, with the investments made so far, with the price of Belene NPP, the state has almost covered a share payment that amounts to about EUR 1 million, which was needed for the capital of the future company, and from now on the matter in point is about engagements on the loan, which would emerge not even next year but in 2011.
"In my opinion, the state’s share in Belene NPP project should be at least 34%, i.e. the country should not only have serious blocking quota, but should also have the possibility to influence management and induction of the produced energy. This is an element of the national security," Ivan Atanasov said.
In his worlds, the secure prices for the construction of the nuclear power plant amount to EUR 500 000 000 700 base price - contract plus owners expenses and price of the platform. From now on everything else are options- escalations, interest, which depend on the speed of the realization of the project and on the conditions on which the loans from the banks have been taken.


The state should hold at least a 34% stake in Belene NPP: Ivan Atanasov
Sofia. "There has been no project on nuclear power plant in which the country has no certain engagements, mostly because it is about safety and political pressure," said former head of the working group on Belene NPP project Ivan Atanasov, speaking to FOCUS News Agency.
In his words, with the investments made so far, with the price of Belene NPP, the state has almost covered a share payment that amounts to about EUR 1 million, which was needed for the capital of the future company, and from now on the matter in point is about engagements on the loan, which would emerge not even next year but in 2011.
"In my opinion, the state’s share in Belene NPP project should be at least 34%, i.e. the country should not only have serious blocking quota, but should also have the possibility to influence management and induction of the produced energy. This is an element of the national security," Ivan Atanasov said.
In his worlds, the secure prices for the construction of the nuclear power plant amount to EUR 500 000 000 700 base price - contract plus owners expenses and price of the platform. From now on everything else are options- escalations, interest, which depend on the speed of the realization of the project and on the conditions on which the loans from the banks have been taken.


If the deal for selling scrap from Belene NPP is not checked by BEH, this would be done: Tencho Popov
Sofia. "The report on the check of the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) to the national power grid operator NEK has not been discussed within the Board of Directors in BEH. If the deal for selling scrap from old equipment of Belene NPP is not included in the report, which according to the interior ministry’s data has defrauded NEK with about BGN 1 million, it will be checked," said Tencho Popov, member of the Board of Directors of BEH.
In his words, there are partial results from the check and the data would be announced immediately after being discussed by the Board and after decisions are taken on the issue.


Corruption scheme revealed in the purchase of dismantled materials of Belene NPP
Sofia. A corruption scheme has been revealed in the purchase of materials from dismantling works on Belene NPP, Bulgarian Minister of Interior Tsvetan Tsvetanov said, as quoted by a reporter of FOCUS News Agency.
The corruption scheme that drains Bulgarian taxpayer’s money has been established during a joint operation of the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Transport, Tsvetanov explained.
The company that makes the evaluation - Mini Consult – M Ltd., with managing director L.H., was not present at the construction site at the time when the contract for evaluation was signed.
The national power grid operator NEK is the selling part, while VDK 1 Ltd. is the buyer. The materials have been sold through Sofia commodity exchange.
Rough calculations show that the total damage caused by the scheme amounts to about BGN 1 million. The papers and materials would be sent to the prosecutor's office.
Other similar contracts would also be checked.

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