UPDATE 1 - Bulgaria, France to cooperate on nuclear energy

The agreement aims to facilitate the exchange of nuclear programmes, collaboration between the nuclear sector and supply chains and industrial participation in new projects, the energy ministry said in a statement.

The initiative also covers safety research, development and innovation and bolstering knowledge and expertise through training and education.

Through the exchange of nuclear technology and educational programmes between Bulgaria and France, there is a mutual aim to promote a secure, competitive, and sustainable green future built upon low-carbon energy sources, Bulgarian minister of energy Rumen Radev said.

Last year, French state-owned energy giant Electricite de France (EDF) agreed to begin a pre-project engineering study for the potential revival of Bulgaria's Belene nuclear power plant project, which was later cancelled.

In 2018, Bulgaria sought to revive the Belene project after paying 601.6 million euro ($650.3 million) in 2016 as compensation to Atomstroyexport, a subsidiary of Russia's Rosatom, for the equipment already manufactured by the Russian company for the cancelled project.

Earlier this month, Bulgaria and the U.S. signed an agreement to cooperate in nuclear energy, focusing on constructing nuclear facilities at Kozloduy nuclear power plant, along with the exchange of expertise, technology and research.

($ = 0.9252 euro)