Bulgaria's Central Electoral Commission has announced the final results from the January 27 nationwide referendum on the development of nuclear energy in Bulgaria.

According to a decision of the CEC date January 29, a total of 1 405 463 Bulgarian nationals cast ballots at the referendum, including at diplomatic and consular offices of Bulgaria, compared to a total of 4 345 450 people who took part in the last parliamentary elections on July 5, 2009.

A total of 6 950 900 Bulgarians were entitled to vote at the referendum.

A total of 1 405 463 Bulgarian nationals participated in the nationwide referendum on nuclear energy, or 20.22% of all citizens entitled to vote, of whom 60.60% voted "yes" and 37.96% voted "no" to the question "Should Bulgaria develop nuclear energy through the construction of a new power plant?"

The invalid ballots were 1.436%.

The referendum results mean that the issue of the construction of the Belene NPP or a new unit of the existing Kozloduy NPP will be returned to Parliament.

The decision of the CEC can be appealed within 7 days from its announcement to the Supreme Administrative Court (VAS), Novinite reports.