Ukraine can use European Union funding to finance the purchase of reactor equipment from Bulgaria which can be used in the completion of two units at the Khmelnitski nuclear power station, the European Commission said.

After a parliamentary decision yesterday (6 July), Bulgaria is to start formal negotiations with Ukraine on the proposed sale of Russia-made nuclear island equipment designated for the Belene nuclear power project, which has been suspended since the equipment was delivered.

The decision said the price sought from a possible sale of the equipment to Ukraine should not be lower than €601.6m ($656m), which is the nominal compensation payment Bulgaria paid to Russia in 2016 for the components excluding interest.