A World Bank energy and environment review drafted at the request of the Bulgarian government, recommended that Bulgaria imported power at acceptable prices by 2008 and delayed investments in new generation units.
According to the review, an acceptable power import rate would be $0.035/kWh, which is the rate at which Bulgaria exports electricity to Turkey. The study said that power generated by the new units constructed at Maritsa Iztok 1 and 3 thermal plants, or by a new nuclear plant, would cost between $0.05/kWh and $0.07/kWh - taking into account the closure of the 440MWe reactors 1 and 2 at Kozloduy, and setting 2006 as a deadline for decommissioning 3 and 4 in line with European Union (EU) demands.
The Bulgarian government has not agreed on a deadline for the closure of Kozloduy 3 and 4.
