Bulgaria intends to build a new 1000 MW nuclear reactor in the nuclear plant of Kozloduy. European and American investors have shown interest in the project. The new reactor will be built up as a replacement capacity, thus replacing the decommissioned four small 440MW energy units. We remind you that Bulgaria conceded to close its small reactors in order to enter the EU.

Despite closing its small energy units in the nuclear plant in Kozloduy, Bulgaria has not given up its nuclear energy development. Moreover, our country has 35 years of history in nuclear equipment’s exploitation, along with highly qualified specialists. On the other hand, throughout Europe and worldwide there is a renaissance in nuclear technologies. The Bulgarian government, along with sector experts do support building a new reactor in the plant. Prime Minister Boyko Borisov clearly declared that experts are working on the idea of building a new 1000 MW unit on the plant’s ground. The Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Traycho Traykov said that the necessary infrastructure is available, along with the facilities and equipment of the platform that have been freed after closing the four small blocks. A working group is doing a preliminary research at the moment in order to evaluate and analyze the situation with the closed reactors. The executive director of the Kozloduy NPP Dimitar Angelov reminded that on New Year’s Eve in 2002 the first two blocks were stopped, followed by the third and the fourth ones exactly four years later. Mr Angelov does support building a new energy block.

Power engineers came up with the idea of the infrastructure and the platform of Kozloduy NPP to be used for building a new 1000 MW nuclear reactor.

According to experts building of a new capacity in the nuclear plant will cost E 2 bln., said Dimitar Angelov with the infrastructure available. “The advantage is that the plant will enter the project with the now vacant equipment available, which will become the basis for building a new energy unit. The investor, not the country or the plant, will also have to analyze the situation.”

Are there any investors, interested in the project?

“American and European investors are interested in the project. Detailed analyses will be done with the participation of the plant for the energy market’s needs and the region’s future. The aim is to evaluate whether building of a reactor or two will be financially appropriate.”

You’ve mentioned the energy market. Some experts forecast a decrease of energy consumption, others claim that energy demand will increase after the crisis. At the same time new competitive capacities are being built in the region.

“Our project will be competitive, since we are going to use the available infrastructure and devices, along with the human resources. We hope this to become an attractive prospect for investment on the nuclear plant’s platform. As far as the energy market is concerned, it is a question of evaluation that is to be analyzed.”

What kind of reactor will be installed, what is the technology that is advantageous for Bulgaria?

“We think that the replacing power reactor should be a fourth generation American or European project, for instance the “Three+” reactor. Two 1000 MW Russian reactors work in the plant at the moment. The idea is for a diversification and protection of Bulgarian energy interests so that the same contractors and suppliers will not be repeated over and over again.”

English version: Zhivko Stanchev