Belene – the perpetual construction on the Danube. At this sport after some time, there will be the two blocks of the Bulgarian nuclear power plant. This contradicts every logic because Belene is a risky place, says the environmentalist Albena Simeonova, showing a seismic map in an interview for the German radio Deutschlandfunk. The media focuses on the problem with the place where the nuclear plant is going to be.

“Back in 1984 Russian scientist said that the region is seismic zone and therefore such projects are too risky. In 1990 Bulgarian academy of science (BAS) confirmed this in a report of nearly 500 pages.”

In the beginning of the 90s the construction is suspended for financial reasons. But 4 years ago, the Bulgarian government renews the work on the project. An assessment is made and suddenly the results are completely different.

“17 years later suddenly it is claimed that there is no risk. Again scientists from BAS are cited, of course new names. But the truth is that the government is paying to get the convenient for it results. Because as it is said in Bulgaria: he, who pays, orders the music.

While in Belene, nearly everyone supports the nuclear power plant, the situation 20 km further – in Svishtov – is different. In March 1977 the town is stricken by a strong earthquake.

“Everyone in Svishtov remembers 1977. The earthquake destroyed more than a third of the buildings, regardless whether they were made of bricks, stone or concrete. 120 people died. Here nobody can forget this.”, says Andrei Zahariev, member of the local municipal council.

In the newest assessment the earthquake is not mentioned at all. On the contrary, it speaks about a region, totally protected against earthquakes.

“The government recruited a private company for this, which is at the same time a client of the state energy company NEC. Millions of dollars were paid for the report, which was done in 3 months. Experts on the environment found, however, more than 200 gross mistakes in the document.”, continues Zahariev.

The construction works on the reactor should start this year. The funding is still not sure. Several banks have refused to participate, because they have decided that the actions is too risky. Environmental organisations such as Greenpeace continue to inform the population about the consequences of this project. In the region, which is one of the poorest in Bulgaria, the people are quite passive, says Albena Simeonova and adds looking outside at the fields “This is a place for tourism, not for nuclear reactors”.

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