Appeal from the National Coalition “NPP BeleNE!”

Opposite to the democratic practices and allowing significant violations the Bulgarian government started a procedure for constructing of a nuclear power plant (which procedure was stopped in 1992) near the town of Belene. We, the National Coalition “NPP BeleNE!” – are convinced that in spite of today’s propaganda there are no reasonable arguments supporting the construction of Belene NPP

Belene NPP will be dangerous, risky, financially and economically not profitable for Bulgaria.

The Belene nuclear power plant (NPP):

• Is to be built in highly earthquake prone zone. Near-by towns of Svishtov and Strazhica were destroyed and gave many victims during previous earthquakes.


• Will increase the incidence of cancer and other illnesses in the region. Authorities claim that the proper operation of a NPP has no impact on human health – BUT they are covering the data about the incidence rate of the illnesses in the region of Kozloduy NPP and the whole region of North-Western Bulgaria. Although the National plan “Environment and Health” from 1998 calls for research on the health risk from nuclear power generation, such research has not been conducted yet. Reliable data for the increase of cancer and other illnesses incidence is missing, as well as the data about the mortality rate after the Chernobil disaster. Bulgaria is one of the three countries in Europe - together with Albania and ex-Yugoslavia – with missing data about the contamination and an assessment of the effects.


• Will pollute soil, underground water and the Danube river!


• Will put an end to fishing. Who will be up for trying radioactive fish?


• Will devastate agriculture and wine-making in the region. Once the Svishtov wines were among the best ones in London!


• Will not provide employment to the people in the region. Only highly qualified specialists work in NPPs. Neither will local farmers supply the NPP Belene. Take a look at Kozloduy NPP contracts with firms from other parts of Bulgaria!


• Will destroy the potential for tourism. The Nature park will become a wasteland, slowly killed by radioactive pollution.


• Will halt the development of the region. The choice of nuclear power kills the prospect of balanced, diversified and sustainable development. No one invests into a potential bomb. No one invests into a region, where ‘the air’ makes people sick!


• Will increase the cost of living. Kozloduy is the most expensive town in Bulgaria!


• Will increase the cost of electricity in Bulgaria: only its production cost will be around 9-12 stotinki (4.6-6.1 eurocents) per kilowatt-hour (incl. decommissioning and spent fuel costs)!


• Will increase the state debt (directly or through guaranties).


• Will create obstacles for the development of clean, safe and effective energy production due to the different contracts, which give priorities to the operator of the NPP (long-term contracts for buying up, fixed prices, excise and other taxes rebates, reduced payments in the decommissioning fund and the spent fuel and radioactive waste management fund, etc.);


• Will turn the region into a dump site for nuclear waste! Thousands of tons of new high radioactive waste will be buried for hundreds of thousands of years somewhere on the territory of Bulgaria.


• Will turn Belene and Svishtov into a target of the world terrorism!



We know all these problems for a long time – they exist in some form at the nuclear power plants that are in operation now and they do not have a solution for the NPP in construction. There are no “new generation of safe” reactors. Nowadays the same dangerous and risky reactors are being offered – product of the time when environmental protection did not exist, when the human life did not cost a dime!

Moreover, the constructing of Belene NPP is only in favor of foreign countries:

• First of all – the interests of Russia. It will have one more instrument for imposing its politics on the Balkans and after 2007 – on the European Union. Russia is trying to monopolize the control over the energy market in the South-East Europe through Belene NPP, new oil and gas pipelines, purchasing of thermal power plants, refineries and infrastructure.


• Secondly a new NPP will be beneficial for the countries that are electricity importers (Greece, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, Italy, Turkey, etc.) and that would heave cheap electricity without taking any of the risks, usually related to the nuclear industry – the risk of accidents, the threat for the health of the people living in the NPP region, nuclear waste storage, the financial-economical risk, etc.

To avoid the potential numerous problems and risks for the people and the nature of Bulgaria we – the organizations and citizens, united in the NPP BeleNE! Coalition, invoke:

Yes! – to inexpensive, energy saving solutions!

Yes! – to the well-being and sustainable development of Central Northern Bulgaria

Yes! – to new, non-nuclear solutions for the NPP Belene construction site, e.g. gas thermal power station, cross-border duty free zone, technology park!

Yes! TO YOUR FUTURE AND TO THE FUTURE OF YOUR CHILDREN.

NO! – to the destruction of agriculture and wine-making in the region!

NO! – to the pollution of the Danube river, to the destruction of fishing and tourism!

NO! – to cancer related illnesses, to leukemia, to vestibular system disorders, to stress and brain hemorrhage!

NO! – to turning the region into a dumping ground for nuclear waste.

NO! - to the 4 billion leva (2 billion euro) debt, which will be repaid by you, your family, your children, the Bulgarian nation!

NO! to a second Chernobyl in your back yard!

NO TO NPP BELENE!