18-10-02 Bulgarian Energy and Energy Resources Minister Milko Kovachev and the Romanian minister of industry and resources, Dan Ioan Popescu, initialled an agreement on cooperation in energy in Ruse (north-eastern Bulgaria) on 18 October, the Energy and Energy Resources Ministry said.
The document defines the parameters of cooperation during the restructuring of the two countries' energy sectors. The agreement is expected to be signed during the forthcoming visit Romania's Prime Minister Adrian Nastase is going to make to Bulgaria. The agreement is a sign the two countries can be stronger together, Kovachev said after the initialling ceremony.

Next year Bulgaria and Romania are expected to be admitted to the European Energy System. The two countries may come up with joint projects at the meeting of regional energy ministers due to be held in Athens, Greece, in mid-November, the Energy and Energy Resources Ministry said.
Kovachev said that five countries, including Bulgaria and Romania, had signeda protocol on cooperation in conducting a study and preparing a project for the transit of gas from Central Asia to Europe.

Kovachev said he expected that the government would shortly consider a proposal for defreezing the construction of a second Bulgarian nuclear power plant at Belene. Then the first step would be to choose the technology and a contractor for the project's implementation, he said.
"Romania is building a second generating unit at the Cerna Voda nuclear plant to meet domestic requirement, as electricity consumption is expected to increase by 15-20 %,' Popescu said.