Reactor Closure in Bulgaria a Mistake - Van Orden

European Parliament (EP) rapporteur for Bulgaria Geoffrey Van Orden said that discussion on the work and closure of Bulgarias Kozloduy nuclear power plant (NPP) was possible, though major changes were unlikely.

Bulgaria had to close four units of its six-reactor NPP because of EU nuclear safety requirements. Units three and four were closed on December 31 2006 although EU experts declared them to be safe.

Van Orden said that he was disappointed that EP and Bulgaria failed to negotiate better agreement for units three and four.

The reactor closure was a mistake of the EP, he said as quoted by Focus news agency.

Nuclear energy will become more important to the EU as the union wants to achieve energy stability and energy independence from Russia and Middle Eastern countries.

Europe would have to prepare a new energy strategy and new discussions on the fate of Kozloduy NPP were possible, Van Orden said.



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