The Czech company Skoda Alliance have updated their bid for building the Belene power plant in Bulgaria, it became known on Wednesday. Their fresh offer comes after last month the Bulgarian energy minister said he was disappointed with both Skoda Alliance and the other bidder, Russia's Atomstroiexport. Rumen Ovcharov disapproved of both the financial parameters and the timelines for the construction of the nuclear facility. In response, Skoda offered Wednesday a lower price and a shorter term of construction, Darik News reported.

Belene, which should put its first reactor into exploitation 2013-215, will be Bulgaria's only nuclear power producer, after most reactors at the Kozloduy plant are closed under EU pressure. Building the new facility will cost about EUR 2 B. The project has been continuously delayed after its launching in 1986 because of financial problems and pressure from environmentalists.