Bulgaria has no intention to give up nuclear energy, stated Bulgarian Minister of Economy and Energy Traicho Traikov Monday.

Traikov was commenting the decision of the German government announced today to phase out all nuclear reactors by 2022 and to discontinue the production of electricity from fission.

"Bulgaria will give up nuclear energy only when it gets populated by Germans," ironically commented the Bulgarian minister.

Traikov mentioned that Bulgaria is committed to building a second NPP - the Belene NPP - should the project be economically viable.

The Energy Minister stated that nontheless the country does not plan to disfavor its extensive coal mining industry and it remains a priority too.