Bulgaria begins paying back its debt to Russia for worth 670 M euro the Belene N-plant. By year-end the greater part of the amount (400 M euro) will be paid back, Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova has said in Vratsa, Southwestern Bulgaria, taking a question from a National Radio reporter. She has thus confirmed reports circulated yesterday night by the Russian news agency TASS. The energy minister has explained that for the time being the National Electric Company cannot not provide the amount needed to pay the debt back and that various options will be considered including state debt. Regarding the interest rate worth 167,000 euro a day that Bulgaria is expected to pay, it is likely to be reduced because of technical errors. Both the Court of Arbitration in Geneva and the Russian government have been informed about it, Temenuzhka Petkova has said.
