The plant, near the country’s border with Ukraine, will start operating with two 400MW-capacity blocks in 2011 and an additional two blocks, with capacity of 800MW each, will be completed two years after that, Sestakov said.

Growing economies in central and southeast Europe have increased demand for electricity at a time, when power generators in the region are being taken out of service and some nuclear reactors have designated for closure to meet EU demands. “The new ‘power factory’ aims to replace the aging electricity-producing capacities, that will likely drop out of service, with modern and environmentally friendly technology, as well as to fulfill the country’s growing need for electricity,” Emfesz said in the statement.

Construction of the first block will be completed by 2011. Construction of the second will finish by 2015. (MTI-Econews)