Bulgaria's energy minister Temenuzhka Petkova said on Monday the government would be happy if the project for construction of Belene nuclear power plant, which it plans to restart, attracts the interest of French nuclear energy business Framatome. The government plans to launch a procedure for selecting a strategic investor for the Belene nuclear power plant (NPP) project by the end of the year, in case the parliament lifts the moratorium on the project, Petkova said in a statement."We would be glad if Framatome takes part in such a procedure," Temenuzhka Petkova said. According to Bernard Fontana, CEO of Framatome, the company is interested in the project and is following closely its development, the statement reads."This is a good opportunity to deepen our cooperation with another European country," Fontana is quoted as saying during a meeting with Petkova at Atomexpo 2018 international forum taking place in Sochi, Russia from May 14 to May 16.