Serbia has officially declared its eagerness to participate in the Belene nuclear power plant (NPP) project, Bulgaria's government press office said on Tuesday.

In a letter to Bulgarian counterpart Prime Minister Boiko Borisov, Serbia's Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic has requested further information on the project, stating the state would decide whether to be one of Belene's investors after becoming familiar with the documentation.

Borisov has ordered the Economy Ministry to shortly send Serbia the required papers, according to the statement.

Bulgaria has been on the lookout for a new strategic partner for the nuclear plant for over a year, following the withdrawal of German RWE. In 2009, the company gave up its 49% stake in the project after the government announced plans to reduce its 51% holding in the plant.

Earlier in November, the Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) selected UK bank HSBC to serve as Belene plant's consultant.

The country invited Serbia to join the nuke project together with Croatia, but Zagreb turned down the offer on November 9.