Atomstroyexport increases compansation claims against Bulgaria to EUR 1 BN

The Russian company Atomstroyexport has increased to 1 billion EUR its compensation claim against Bulgaria over its decision to drop the deal for a Russian company to construct Belene nuclear power plant, the correspondent for the BNR in Moscow Vasko Myhailov has announced.

The compensation has been lodged with the International Court of Arbitration at the International Chamber of Commerce in Paris. The increase in the compensation claim is due to the refusal of the Bulgarian Energy Company to restore the potential loses and damages of the Russian side after the project was abandoned by the Bulgarian government and to Bulgaria’s decision to drop the project early.

 The Bulgarian Minister of Economy, Energy and tourism Delian Dobrev said that he was not surprised by the new compensation claim from the Russian company and added that over the last 6 months Bulgaria worked out its defence position.

«Russia has the right for such arbitration, but we have enough arguments that there are no grounds for a compensation of EUR 1 BN», – the Bulgarian minister said in conclusion.  

Adapted from Bulgarian National Radio