Bulgaria began to close two 440-MW reactors of its Kozloduy nuclear power station at around 19 local time (1700GMT) Sunday in the hours before the country joining the European Union (EU) - one of the last unfulfilled criteria of membership.

The officer on duty of the National Electricity Company issued the order for the stoppage of the two reactors.

Bulgaria agreed to shut four older reactors, out of a total of six units, at the Kozloduy nuclear plant to meet the safety requirements of the EU.

Two of Kozloduy's older reactors, dating from the 1970s, were already closed in 2002, when Bulgaria started accession negotiations.

The stoppage of the two main nuclear reactors of the plant will sacrifice the electricity export of the poor Balkan country.

Bulgaria, which has provided 75 percent of southeastern Europe's power exports, has canceled those exports for next year to meet domestic demand, after Kozloduy's output is reduced.

Kozloduy's two newer 1,000-MW reactors each will continue operating, following an EUR 200 million modernization to be funded by the EU.

Source: Xinhua