The US is proposing that Bulgaria give up its plans to build a second nuclear power plant in the country, France Presse reports, citing the US embassy in Bulgaria.

The project for a second Bulgarian NPP at Belene has been shelved multiple times over its price and cost effectiveness even though the two reactors have already been purchased and delivered by Russia.  

After a visit by US Ambassador to Bulgaria Herro Mustafa to Kozloduy NPP on Thursday, the US embassy wrote on Facebook: “The Ambassador and Kozloduy's leadership discussed how Kozloduy benefits from advantages in infrastructure and human capital that should make it the center of the Bulgarian nuclear power industry for generations to come. The two sides discussed a hybrid solution that makes maximum use of the equipment Bulgaria had previously purchased for the Belene project, augmented by best-in-class technologies from a number of Western suppliers. Such a project would be more financially sustainable than other options, and would benefit from Kozloduy's already existing strong technical, environmental and seismic advantages, highly skilled staff, training center, safety and security measures, and electricity transmission infrastructure. A successful hybrid project at Kozloduy would guarantee an abundance of safe, reliable, carbon free energy for Bulgaria’s citizens while strengthening Bulgaria’s energy independence and security.”