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Bulgaria considers the construction of the 7th and 8th units of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) a strategically important project for ensuring the country's energy security GERB leader Boyko Borissov emphasized this during a meeting with Hyundai CEO Hanwoo Lee expressing confidence that the project would be completed within the deadlines set by the National Assembly and within the designated budget highlighted Bulgaria’s long-standing expertise in nuclear energy He noted that Bulgaria has over 50 years of experience in the sector He shared these remarks in a social media post following the meeting Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov reaffirmed the importance of the project during discussions with a delegation from Hyundai Engineering & Construction He described the new nuclear capacities as a critical step for both Bulgaria and the broader Southeastern European region focused on the progress of the engineering contract between Kozloduy-New Power and a consortium consisting of the Bulgarian branches of Westinghouse and Hyundai Engineering & Construction Government officials stated that implementing the contract would facilitate the necessary regulatory steps for the project while also assessing future investment and operational costs Zhelyazkov assured that Bulgaria would take all necessary measures to accelerate the project while maintaining high standards He emphasized the importance of strict safety protocols both during construction and in the future operation of the new units must comply with all national and European regulations to ensure quality and security in its execution We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria Bulgaria commemorates one of its most significant national holidays – the Day of Saint George the Victorious and the official Day of the Bulgarian Army all retailers in Bulgaria will be required to display prices in both leva and euros Employers in Bulgaria are legally required to implement all necessary measures to prevent and minimize workplace accidents a major British tour operator specializing in holidays to Bulgaria has halted all its operations effective April 24 Wage growth in Bulgaria is projected at 9.3 percent for 2025 a 15.4 percent rise in the minimum wage since January The World Bank has revised down its forecast for Bulgaria’s economic growth in 2025 The Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC) has approved the natural gas price in Bulgaria for May Bulgaria is set to become the first European country to operate an AP1000 reactor according to Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov speaking at a symposium hosted by Westinghouse in Sofia Bulgaria has taken a significant step toward exploring its deep-sea energy potential The two nuclear reactors from Bulgaria's Belene Nuclear Power Plant will not be sold to Ukraine A contract for the exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas in Block 1-26 Khan Tervel located within Bulgaria’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea Bulgaria is exploring the possibility of leveraging its nuclear power capabilities to attract the IT sector particularly in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers Google Street View Cars Return to Bulgaria for Major Mapping Update Housing Prices Soar in Bulgaria’s Major Cities as Demand and Supply Strain Increase Westinghouse and Kozloduy NPP New Builds Plc are working together on the strategic project for the construction of two new AP1000 reactors at the Kozloduy site One of the project's main objectives is localization to carry out as many activities in Bulgaria as possible thus creating a new wave of high quality local suppliers that will become the future backbone of the nuclear industry in Bulgaria and the European Union Westinghouse is organising a supplier symposium in Sofia Invited to attend are Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov US Embassy in Sofia Charge d'Affaires ad interim Susan Falatko Budget and Finance Committee Chairman Delyan Dobrev Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association Board Chairman Rumen Radev Kozloduy NPP - New Builds CEO Petyo Ivanov Senior Director of Westinghouse's AP1000 project in Bulgaria Contacts +359 2 9262 210 By accepting cookies you can enjoy a better experience while browsing pages signed an agreement with Bulgaria‘s nuclear authority on Monday to build new reactors at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant The project marks Hyundai E&C’s return to the overseas nuclear sector 15 years after working on the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates The Kozloduy project will add two large reactors to the existing plant site located about 200 kilometers north of Sofia Hyundai E&C will begin the first phase of design in 2024 with the main construction contract expected to be awarded by the end of the following year and completion scheduled for 2035 Hyundai will undertake the project in a consortium with U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Corp at an estimated total project cost of $14 billion which supplies one-third of Bulgaria’s electricity was commissioned in 1974 as the country’s first nuclear power plant While its older units 1 to 4 have been decommissioned based on a Russian-designed pressurized water reactor model The new Units 7 and 8 will be based on Westinghouse’s AP1000 model Hyundai E&C will oversee the design of all supporting components and auxiliary systems for power transmission at the plant as well as site preparation and licensing support The design phase is expected to take 12 months from project inception Hyundai E&C was the only global company among the bidders for the Kozloduy project to meet all the preliminary requirements fully and independently pass the pre-qualification process in February 2024 CEO Yoon Young-joon has been strengthening Hyundai’s local network ever since then meeting with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and leaders of the country‘s two main political parties and holding promotional events to engage local nuclear and construction industry stakeholders along with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co.’s recent nuclear project win in the Czech Republic and the resumption of construction of Shin-Hanul Units 3 and 4 in South Korea signals a resurgence for Korea’s nuclear industry which is regaining momentum under President Yoon Suk Yeol‘s pro-nuclear energy push Samsung Electronics’ R&D costs hit record $24 bn in 2024 Concerns rise over controversial proposal to extend urban bu.. Korean gov’t expands 2025 R&D budget by 13.2% Terra Light beer sells over 10 mn bottles in two weeks Korea sees record 1,745 corporate bankruptcies in 2024 Short-form startup SpoonLabs leads 2024 Korean startup fundi.. LG Electronics CEO warns of potential U.S. price hikes Woongjin soars nearly 28% on Preed Life acquisition Hanwha Ocean’s special shipyard: Korea becomes U.S. Navy’s l.. Korea’s inflation rises 2.1% in April Samsung smart farm tech boosts mango yields, cuts costs in J.. LK Samyang launches superwide zoom lens with German partner Musinsa’s beauty business surges 130% in Q1 Luxury watches, jewelry rise as new growth engine for depart.. KakaoMap launches indoor navigation for 54 major train stati.. SK telecom shares fall on new subscription freeze KEPCO to unveil first 5-year power distribution plan by mid-.. Daemyung Sono to sell entire stake in Air Premia LG CNS partners with KAIST to train AI transformation expert.. item.tmx : Math.floor(item.tmn)+'/'+Math.floor(item.tmx)) +'℃ Samsung’s Bespoke AI Combo hits 100,000 sales milestone LG Energy Solution seeks global talent in U.S. LG Electronics rolls out tumbler washer MyCup LG Elec installs LED scoreboard at Boston Red Sox stadium HD Hyundai Heavy holds ceremony for Philippine patrol ship LG unveils 2025 OLED Evo TV Samsung unveils gaming monitor with glasses-free 3D technology KITA Chief meets Texas Governor to discuss semiconductor subsidies KB Kookmin Bank, KCS to enhance forex monitoring system LG Electronics’ AI Washtower optimizes laundry in 3 seconds The Kozloduy N-Plant is holding a schoоl emergency preparedness competition among 30 students from Kozloduy as well as emergency preparedness training in all schools in the Kozloduy and Mizia municipalities are part of a targeted and consistent effort to maintain a high level of awareness among the youngest citizens living in the plant area The active outreach to youth in the settlements around the N-plant was noted as a good practice during an International Atomic Energy Agency's OSART mission in 2024 "The nuclear power plant continues an established tradition of open dialogue with the students from the localities in the region simultaneously promoting important topics related to various aspects of safety and presenting the nuclear industry as a promising opportunity for future professional career," Kozloduy N-plant said The competition will be attended by students from the Igor Kurchatov Vocational School of Nuclear Energy Kiril and Metodii and Hristo Botev Secondary Schools from Kozloduy Maria Sklodowska-Curie Vocational School of Nuclear Energy from Kozloduy the Petar Bogdan Secondary School from Belene and the Vasil Levski  High School of Business and Finance from Montana The event will be held at the House of Energy in Kozloduy The emergency preparedness competition is organized by Kozloduy N-plant in cooperation with the Association Women in the Nuclear Industry – Bulgaria - WiN Bulgaria NPP Kozloduy - New Capacities EAD and the Bulgarian Atomic Forum Bulgaria's sole nuclear power plant on Monday began using atomic fuel produced by the U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Corporation a key step as the country shifts away from its reliance on Russian energy The state-owned Kozloduy plant on the Danube River supplies more than a third of the country's electricity and has so far relied on Russian fuel for its two operational Soviet-built 1,000-megawatt reactors The oldest reactor was connected to the national electricity grid on Monday morning after "43 fuel assemblies were loaded into the reactor," the plant said in a statement The gradual transition process toward the new fuel type is expected to take four years In the wake of Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine Kozloduy signed nuclear fuel supply agreements with Westinghouse and Framatome — a subsidiary of French energy giant EDF — to replace shipments from Russia depended almost entirely on Russian energy supplies The Kozloduy plant's second reactor is due to be supplied with Framatome's fuel two U.S.-built nuclear reactors are to be installed at Kozloduy by the 2030s Slovakia and Hungary have also signed nuclear fuel supply agreements with Westinghouse and Framatome Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help please support us monthly starting from just $2 and every contribution makes a significant impact independent journalism in the face of repression Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov does not expect the possible introduction of US tariffs to push up the cost of a project for the construction of Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. "I do not expect the reactors to be subject to tariffs or duties either from Europe or from the United States The project will have a solid financial backing from the US export banks and South Korea," Stankov said at the Kozloduy NPP He added that by selecting the AP1000 technology for the new capacities at the Kozloduy NPP the state has transferred the risk to the companies responsible for delivering the equipment In November 2024, NPP Kozloduy New Builds Plc, Westinghouse and Hyundai Engineering & Construction signed an engineering contract for new nuclear capacities at the plant Stankov and Education Minister Krasimir Valchev held a meeting with the management of the Kozloduy NPP and of Kozloduy NPP-New Builds Plc Petyo Ivanov tells industry conference ‘we live in some tough times related to costs’ Negotiations with financial institutions need to be concluded and details of capital expenditure and operational expenditure fixed as Bulgaria lays the groundwork for new nuclear power reactors chief executive officer of state nuclear project company Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant New Build (KNPP-NB) told the Bulgarian Atomic Forum (Bulatom) event that every financing model for planned new reactors at the existing Kozloduy nuclear site is “on the table” This includes contracts for difference (CfD) and power purchase agreements “We acknowledge the importance of financing because we recognise that we live in some tough times related to financial costs,” Ivanov said He said a financial model give projections for the levelised cost of energy (LCOE) from new reactors and how this would fit into the market LCOE captures both capital and operating costs that need to be covered It is essentially the long-term price at which the electricity produced by a power plant will have to be sold for the investor to cover all their costs Ivanov warned that “we are experiencing the highest financial costs in the past 20 to 25 years and we did have the expectation that these rates would go down” potentially leading to lower borrowing costs a partner at UK-based law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and a former senior legal counsel at Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation for the Barakah nuclear station project in the UAE told the conference that Hinkley Point C in England was financed with CfD the French state-owned company building the two EPR plants at Hinkley Point C is “a massive company and it could take on the risk” of a CfD financing arrangement the developer still takes all the risk,” he said developers have to finance the entire construction cost of a nuclear project up front and only begin receiving revenue when the station starts generating electricity This model led to the cancellation of potential projects such as Hitachi’s project at Wylfa Newydd in Wales and Toshiba’s at Moorside in Cumbria Zabieleski said the CfD model results in about a third of the cost being interest during construction the next planned nuclear project in the UK there are plans to use the regulated asset base (RAB) model which he said “actually is probably the best way to go ahead and finance a nuclear power plant” He said the RAB model is roughly analogous to the way that the US financed its nuclear fleet through passing the costs on to the eventual customers The RAB model model gives a nuclear company the right to a regulated revenue stream throughout the construction commissioning and operations phase of a new nuclear project This is funded by a charge placed on electricity suppliers and ultimately comes from consumers through their electricity bills RAB financing essentially gives private investors greater certainty through a lower and more reliable rate of return in the early stages of a project “I cannot emphasise how important it is to have the business structure organised in a way that isolates the lenders and the investors from risk,” Zabieleski said Bulgaria is planning to build two Westinghouse-supplied AP1000 plants at Kozloduy but has not yet finalised the details of financing for a project that the American Nuclear Society has said could cost $13bn (€12.1bn) Other reports have said Sofia expects the cost of the two-unit Kozloduy expansion to not exceed $14bn the Bulgarian parliament approved a government proposal to inject up to €766m ($833m) into KNPP-NB to fund the initial stages of the project chief executive of the Kozloduy nuclear power station has said that the financing for the first AP1000 unit is to be primarily sourced from commercial banks with the Bulgarian government contributing the remaining 30% Bulgaria’s energy ministry said recently the US Export-Import Bank (Exim) has said it will start work on the structuring of financing for the project with the aim of meeting a mid-2025 deadline set by parliament There are two 1,000-MW Russia-designed VVER units already in operation at Kozloduy – Bulgaria’s only commercial nuclear power station – and four older VVER units that have been permanently shut down The project company Kozloduy NPP - New Builds Plc had issued a call for expressions of interest in participating in the procedure for determining a shortlist of potential construction companies for engineering delivery and commissioning of a nuclear power plant​ It says the candidates expressing an interest were Fluor BV a consortium led by China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas and partner China Energy Engineering Group Tianjin Electric Power Construction Co as well as China Energy Engineering Corporation Limited The initial part of the selection process was to check that those expressing an interest met the qualifying criteria These include demonstrating construction experience and the commissioning of at least two nuclear units as well as "to have solid experience in the nuclear and turbine island of at least two units or have supplied and installed equipment for two units within the last 15 years - applicants must also demonstrate at least USD6 billion in turnover and profit for the five years period from 2018 to 2022" Candidates from the Russian Federation were specifically excluded after a commission carried out the pre-qualifying review, "the commission proposed for a shortlist of potential construction companies for engineering procurement and commissioning of a nuclear power plant at the approved site in Kozloduy with AP1000 technology on the 'pass/fail' principle: Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co" It added that the commission's report had been accepted and approved by the project company Hyundai E&C looks set now to go forward to submit an offer in the next stage of the process Bulgaria is aiming to have two new Westinghouse AP1000 units at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant Deputy Energy Minister Nikolay Nikolov told Bulgaria's official BTA news agency in December that the aim was to achieve a price of about EUR6 billion (USD6.5 billion) for each of the units Kozloduy units 1-4 were VVER-440 models which the European Commission had classified as non-upgradeable and Bulgaria agreed to close them during negotiations to join the European Union in 2007 Units 5 and 6 feature VVER-1000 reactors that were connected to the grid in 1987 and 1991 Both units have been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years When the decision to move ahead with AP1000 units at Kozloduy was given approval by the country's council of ministers in October the target date for the completion of the first unit was 2033 with the second unit to follow "two or three years after the first one" The 2300 MWe capacity of the two new units would exceed the 1760 MWe capacity of the closed first four units The Bulgarian government has also said that further units will be needed to replace units 5 and 6 by 2050 Westinghouse will hold overall Design Authority responsibility for the AP1000 plant adding: "The responsibilities for the design of individual AP1000 plant systems and buildings shall be delegated by Westinghouse The responsibility for the design of Modules Constructions Assemblies and Platforms is aligned with the party that is responsible for the design of the building in which the item is located." Bulgaria’s Council of Ministers has decided that the National Electricity Company (NEK -Natsionalnata Elektricheska Kompaniya) is to sell some equipment stored at the suspended Belene NPP project to Kozloduy NPP to extend the operating life of Kozloduy units 5&6 The Belene project envisaged the construction of two Russian VVER-1000/V-466 reactors and preliminary site works began in 2008 Contracts for components including large forgings and I&C systems were signed with suppliers The plant was to be built by Atomstroyexport (part of Rosatom) after Russia won an international tender in 2006 but the project was cancelled in 2012 It was revived again briefly in 2018 after a series of arbitration procedures which saw Bulgaria pay €601.6m ($691.5m) in compensation to Atomstroyexport for the equipment already manufactured These components are now stored at the construction site NEK said in August 2023 that it will be able to continue to conserve the equipment delivered for units 1&2 of Belene NPP” with technical assistance from Atomstroyexport Kozloduy NPP operates two Soviet-built VVER-1000 reactors (units 5&6) which are due to be decommissioned in 2027 and 2029 Bulgaria was obliged to close four older VVER-440 units as a condition for accession to the European Union even though the units had undergone significant safety upgrades Rusatom Service earlier carried out several projects at Kozloduy including a feasibility study for life extension Russian involvement in Bulgaria’s nuclear programme has ended The Kozloduy units are being switched from using Russian supplied fuel to fuel supplied by Westinghouse Bulgaria and the US signed a formal agreement to collaborate on the construction of new units at Kozloduy (7&8) The document outlines cooperation in nuclear power development and technology exchange While the units are to have Westinghouse AP1000 reactors Westinghouse will not take part in the construction but will retain overall control of the project The value of the Belene equipment to be transferred to Kozloduy is nearly BGN1m $554,000) An independent appraiser will determine the initial selling price and the transaction will be carried out by direct negotiation between the two companies according to regulations set out in the Public Enterprises Act The Council of Ministers said implementation of the transaction will ensure the security of the equipment at Kozloduy as well as the optimisation of the time for carrying out repair activities was permitted to sell Belene components to Kozloduy fans and other equipment were sold two years ago to be used in repair programmes at units 5&6 the National Assembly earlier instructed the Minister of Energy to start negotiations with Ukraine for the sale of the two Belene reactor pressure vessels and accompanying equipment for completion of units 3&4 at its Khmelnitsky NPP Bulgaria expects at least BGN 1.2m for the equipment but so far no agreement has been finalised although talks with Ukraine are continuing in a recent podcast reported by Novinite Business former Chairman of the Committee for the Use of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes and scientific supervisor for the commissioning of Kozloduy 7 expressed concerns about plans for the plant He noted that in eight years there will be nowhere to store used fuel from the existing Kozloduy NPP it must always be in an environment that ensures its cooling and it must be placed in a specific way” He explained that after three years in the used fuel pools the fuel is transferred to onsite storage “and can stay there for decades” we have dealt with this because the used fuel was transported to Russia where it was processed and temporarily stored In this way we periodically made space in our storage He added: “I was appointed as the head of a working group to update the spent fuel storage strategy we set out to start negotiations with France and to explore the options for processing our fuel at French factories France has two plants for processing such fuel He was especially concerned about mixing Russian fuel with the fuel of the Westinghouse He explained that there is a risk of abrasion between two adjacent cartridges “The other thing that worries me is that our contract with the Russians for internal reactor control has expired and they will no longer provide data on their cartridges that remain in the reactor And these data are very important for the whole process Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the Progressive Media network © Business Trade Media International Limited Sofia planning to build two Westinghouse AP1000 plants at site The official Bulgarian BTA news agency reported that the Bulgarian government had set a target date for the first unit to be ready for 2033 with a further BGN500 million (USD270 million) of funding provided to the project company It adds that the Cabinet asked Energy Minister Rumen Radev to "take the necessary actions on the transparent selection of a contractor for the design construction and commissioning of the new power unit The final contract with the selected company and with the supplier of the AP1000 technology must be drawn up under the conditions of a fixed price and execution period The Cabinet obliged the Minister of Energy to organise negotiations with financial institutions to secure the necessary loan funds." The same meeting also gave approval for the start of preparations of unit 8 at Kozloduy with the aim that it would be completed "two or three years after the first one" Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said that the 2300 MWe capacity of the two new units would exceed the 1760 MWe capacity of the closed first four units highlighted the new reactors' ability to change power output as important for the balancing and stability of the overall energy system Westinghouse and Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild signed an MoU to initiate planning for the potential deployment of one or more AP1000 reactors at Kozloduy which is in the northwest of Bulgaria on the Danube River and provides about 34% of the country's electricity Kozloduy units 1-4 were VVER-440 models which the European Commission had classified as non-upgradeable and Bulgaria agreed to close them during their negotiations to join the European Union in 2007 The baker says, “Sorry, we just ran out of bread, but we’ve got plenty of politicians who’ll promise to bring some tomorrow!”... read The Bulgarian replied, "Simple, we just put everything in a pot, add a little rakia, and let the flavors fight it out!" It’s a recipe for success… and possibly a ... read While speaking briefly with the media, Trump took a question on the stock market drop following the tariffs and said, "I think it's going very well," and added that the United States will "have six or seven trillion dollars coming into our country."He further said, "The markets are going ... read 'This is not the time to go it alone,' Rutte warns, as he says 'no alternative to NATO'Nato’s secretary general Mark Rutte is speaking again, giving a lecture at the Warsaw School of Economics in which he strongly backs the role of the alliance and tells both Europe and the ... read Capturing spring in Bulgaria: A blooming season through our lens Spring in Bulgaria is a time of vibrant renewal marked by blooming flowers and milder weather the countryside transforms with colorful wildflowers such as snowdrops Cities and villages alike celebrate the season » See all photos The initial process is for prequalification of candidates against eligibility and prequalification criteria. The shortlisted candidates will submit their offers in a separate future process, says the document issued by Kozloduy NPP-New Builds Plc It says: "The overall objective and result of the current assignment is to have an AP1000 plant procured Westinghouse shall hold overall Design Authority responsibility for the AP1000 plant The responsibilities for the design of individual AP1000 plant systems and buildings shall be delegated by Westinghouse Constructions Assemblies and Platforms is aligned with the party that is responsible for the design of the building in which the item is located The division of responsibilities with respect to Design Commissioning and Startup activities are defined in a separate document for Division of Responsibilities which eventually shall be part of the EP+C Contract." The prequalification and award criteria include the technical capacity and reputation of the candidate and "experience as leading constructor in contract/s for construction and commissioning of at least two nuclear units experience in contract/s for detailed design of systems structures and components within nuclear island or turbine island of nuclear plant for at least two nuclear units and experience in contract/s for supply and installation of important equipment within nuclear island or turbine island of at least two nuclear units" It also requires provision of evidence of bidders' "sound financial and economic standing" The document specifically excludes candidates from the Russian Federation Bulgaria is aiming to have two new Westinghouse AP1000 units at Kozloduy nuclear power plant Deputy Energy Minister Nikolay Nikolov told Bulgaria's official BTA news agency in December that the aim was to achieve a price of about EUR6 billion (USD6.5 billion) for each of the units It also quoted him as saying that potential construction companies had been narrowed down to Bechtel and that the Bulgarian state was expected to be the only investor in the project Kozloduy NPP - New Build EAD signed a legal cooperation agreement with the law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman in Washington the Ministry of Energy reported on Wednesday Caretaker Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov said: "Kozloduy NPP - New Build EAD bringing in an international legal advisor with Pillsbury's experience and expertise is an important step towards the successful implementation of the Unit 7 and Unit 8 project at the Kozloduy NPP site." The contract was signed by Kozloduy NPP - New Build CEO Petyo Ivanov and partner at Pillsbury Vincent Zabielski Also attending the ceremony were Dr Jon Carmack Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Fuel Cycle of the US Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy; Vincent Zabielski leader of Pillsbury’s Nuclear Energy Team Malinov emphasized that the project to build Units 7 and 8 at our nuclear power plant is of strategic importance not only for Bulgaria but also for the entire region of Southeast Europe in the context of achieving carbon neutrality goals He stated that the project would consolidate Bulgaria's role as a regional energy leader with 50 years of experience in operating nuclear power plants Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman is an international law firm with over 50 years of experience in the nuclear energy field The firm's portfolio includes comprehensive legal services for new build projects such as the Barakah NPP in the United Arab Emirates and the Akkuyu NPP in Turkiye The firm's core competencies include the preparation of engineering and construction contracts financing and licensing of new nuclear facilities Global Markets at Westinghouse Electric Company The need to finalize the signing of an engineering contract between Kozloduy NPP - New Build the South Korean Hyundai Engineering and Construction and the US Westinghouse Electric Company was highlighted during the meeting Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev (pictured above) and Acting Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov visited the site where Westinghouse is also lined up to build two new blocks Malinov told reporters "we plan to gradually load the first 43 cartridges of fresh nuclear fuel .. in May" and noted that the diversification of suppliers also included French firm Framatome being contracted to provide fuel for unit 6 In November 2022 Bulgaria's National Assembly voted to accelerate the process of securing an alternative to Russia as supplier of nuclear fuel for the Russian-designed VVER-1000 units at Kozloduy signing a 10-year contract with Westinghouse to fabricate and deliver VVER-1000 nuclear fuel supplied from Westinghouse's fabrication site in Västerås The country's Nuclear Regulatory Agency had already issued a licence for the storage of Robust Westinghouse Fuel Assembly (RWFA) fuel with a permit for its operation issued on Monday afternoon It said that the phased transition "to the new type of fuel will take four years" Westinghouse has been providing fuel for Russian VVER nuclear plants in Ukraine over recent years as the country diversified its fuel supply even before the current war The Kozloduy nuclear power plant is in the northwest of Bulgaria on the Danube River and provides about 34% of the country's electricity It features two VVER-1000 units currently in operation which have both been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years In February the Bulgarian Parliament gave the go-ahead for talks to take place with Hyundai Engineering & Construction as the sole shortlisted constructor for engineering delivery and commissioning of the new Westinghouse AP1000 units planned for the Kozloduy site The aim is for a final investment decision by the middle of 2025 with the first new unit to be operational in 2035 and unit 8 in 2037 If you would like to learn more about the IAEA’s work sign up for our weekly updates containing our most important news An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today completed a review of long term operational safety of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Bulgaria The Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation (SALTO) follow-up review mission was requested by the country’s government. The mission reviewed the Kozloduy NPP’s response to recommendations and suggestions made during an IAEA SALTO mission in 2021 the SALTO team’s review focused on aspects essential to the safe Long Term Operation (LTO) of unit five and six at Kozloduy which went into commercial operation in 1987 and 1991 respectively Kozloduy NPP is Bulgaria’s only nuclear power plant and the two pressurized-water reactor units provide an installed power of approximately 1000 MWe each The operation licenses of the two units have been extended until 2027 for unit five and until 2029 for unit six Units one to four were all shut down by 2007 and are in the course of decommissioning “The team observed that the operator has completed all major actions to safely operate the reactors in the LTO period,” said team leader and IAEA Senior Nuclear Safety Officer Gabor Petofi “Based on its efforts on recommendations made by the SALTO team in 2021 the plant has made significant improvements in the area of ageing management The team found that these activities are consistent with IAEA Safety Standards for safe long-term operation.” The team – comprising three experts from Armenia and three IAEA staff members – said the plant had: The team noted that further work is necessary by the plant to ensure that: Plant management expressed a determination to maintain the level of preparedness for safe LTO and further cooperate with the IAEA in this field this is the final step of the IAEA’s supporting service to ensure safe operation of our reactors in the LTO period The IAEA SALTO missions and technical cooperation helped to improve our continued focus on safe operation,” said Andrey Krasnocharov “We have worked together with the IAEA for the past eight years carrying out four missions and several technical discussions We appreciate the IAEA’s support of our plant in managing ageing and preparation for safe LTO and we will continue to improve our processes to further comply with IAEA Safety Standards,” he added The team provided a draft report to the plant management and to Bulgaria’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency at the end of the mission They will have an opportunity to make factual comments on the draft A final report will be submitted to the plant management the Nuclear Regulatory Agency and the Bulgarian Government within three months Neither SALTO nor OSART reviews are regulatory inspections nor are they design reviews or substitutes for an exhaustive assessment of a plant's overall safety status LTO of nuclear power plants is defined as operation beyond an established time frame determined by the license term consideration should be given to life limiting processes and features of systems as well as to reasonably practicable safety upgrades to enhance the safety of the plant to a level approaching that of modern plants The Bulgarian government approved an exemption from certain provisions of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia's actions destabilizing the situation in Ukraine the cabinet press service reported on Wednesday The exemption allows the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant to award contracts to selected companies listed in an annex to the decision The plant will be able to import from Russia iron and steel products under contracts named in other annexes to Wednesday's decision the decision permits the import of goods and technologies from Russia and the use of Russian technical assistance for them as necessary for the implementation of contracts expressly named in annexes to the decision The derogation from the EU rules will be valid until the expiry of the contracts concerned A large part of the systems and the equipment at the Kozloduy NPP originated in Russia which is why some of the contracts for supplying goods and providing services for the purposes of annual maintenance and reliable and safe functioning of the two operational reactors at Kozloduy (Units 5 and 6) have been signed or need to be signed with Russian companies Kozloduy is the only nuclear power plant in Bulgaria It produces more than a third of the electricity generated in the country We use cookies to provide the best user experience Please review our Privacy Policy to learn our cookie policy As well as giving approval for the talks to begin parliamentarians also set out a series of requirements for the Bulgarian side in the negotiations according to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA) Last week Kozloduy NPP - New Builds announced that South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) was deemed by a commission reviewing the expressions of interest to have been the only one of the five candidates to have met the requirements for the construction and commissioning of the two new Westinghouse AP1000s The others to have been interested in the project were Fluor BV According to BTA there was more than three hours of debate including at least one vote where a call for at least one other bidder - Bechtel - to be reinstated to the process was rejected that its return to the overseas market after 15 years was a visible reflection of the South Korean government's support for the restoration of the nuclear industry A spokesperson said: "The selection as the preferred bidder for the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria will be a signal for the resurgence of the Korean nuclear industry which has been somewhat stagnant due to the nuclear phase-out policy.” They noted the European Union green taxonomy and said that "as the positive atmosphere toward nuclear energy spreads .. and we will strive to deliver more orders through multilateral channels as well as participation in Team Korea." The Bulgarian Parliament has set 15 April as the date by which negotiations on the specific clauses of the contract must have taken place with the chairman of the Energy Committee looking for a final investment decision to be taken by the middle of 2025 The aim is for the first new unit - unit 7 at Kozloduy - to be operational in 2035 and the second one - unit 8 - to be operational in 2037 Both units have been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years. The 2300 MWe capacity of the two new units would exceed the 1760 MWe capacity of the closed first four units South Korea has 26 reactors providing about a third of the country's electricity and has long been one of the world's most prominent nuclear energy countries but in 2017 then President Moon Jae-in introduced a policy of phasing out nuclear power over a period of 45 years and laid out a new energy policy supporting reactor construction and a renewed export push since the government is doing it in a very wrong way inconsistent with legal requirements and European directives" This was stated to the Bulgarian National Radio by energy expert Prof Georgi Kaschiev on the project for the 7th and 8th units of the "Kozloduy" NPP the path being taken is wrong and will lead to a "catastrophe" there are at least 4-5 arguments in this direction: "The decision of the Council of Ministers of October 24 since the 4 requested analyses were not presented The way in which a decision is made to build a new nuclear power plant has long been reported to the EC will raise the issue of violating European directives The second question is about the necessary financing There are many examples in the history of nuclear energy when incorrect calculations of initial costs have failed the construction of the unit at all and they have been abandoned The third risk factor - the authorities claim that there is a valid EIA report for Unit 7 This report entered into force in 2019 and in order to remain in force the construction of this unit had to begin in the next 5 years The Ministry of Environment and Water claims that its inspection in 2023 established that construction has begun I think that our enthusiasts will crash here No one has said what we will do with the spent fuel We have been in a punitive procedure by the EC for 5 years for not having a spent fuel management program after 2030 When the issue goes to serious talks with the Commission As for the price and time for working on such a project "2 reactors of the same type that were built in the USA and were completed in 2023 and 2024 - instead of 4-5 years were completed in 10 years and instead of 14 billion dollars This is one fact that shows how much they will cost The other fact is that 2 years ago the Polish nuclear company signed a contract with "Westinghouse" and the American company "Bechtel" to build 3 units with AP1000 All the claims of previous ministers that we would have set a red line to cost up to 14 billion euros are not based on any facts the price of electricity in the USA from these two reactors is between 170 and 180 dollars per megawatt hour After this reactor turned out to be so expensive in the USA no one in North America intends to build another unit of this type "These are such overreaches in front of "Westinghouse" that it is a bit shameful," he said regarding the Bulgarian project "No other reactor manufacturer in the world plans to design large reactors that will rely solely on passive systems for cooling the core in emergency conditions They only use this method to cool small and medium-sized reactors This approach is used only by "Westinghouse" which raises some doubts as to whether it will really ensure safety in a severe accident" it depends on how much money you plan to invest Kaschiev when asked whether the two reactors intended for the "Belene" NPP should be installed in "Kozloduy" without clear business cooperation with "Rosatom" it is out of the question "Attention should be focused on continuing the operation of units 5 and 6 to stop this extremely high increase in the plant's costs According to many statements by other experts there are oligarchs standing at the entrance and exit And possibly replacement capacities for units 5 and 6 should be planned towards the end of their life Attention should be paid to building capacities for energy storage - this is what our system needs now it is no wonder that we will end up with a problem like in Spain" There is no clarity about the reasons for the power outages in Spain and other countries intervention in this development is not ruled out the uncontrolled growth of photovoltaic capacities "This insane development of the "Green Deal" must be stopped and thermal power plants - those with a long equipment resource and not close operating power plants and build some overpriced projects to please foreign interests" More news from Bulgaria Bulgarian energy minister Rossen Hristov said the agreement signed on 30 December made it "an important day in the history" of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant as it diversifies fuel supplies for the country's nuclear power plant - moving from its previous Russian supplier to the US and French suppliers for the VVER-1000 reactors On 22 December, a contract for the production and supply of assemblies with fresh nuclear fuel for the fifth unit of the Kozloduy plant was signed with Westinghouse. The agreement with Framatome also sets out the schedule of future negotiations and the conclusion of a contract for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel for the sixth unit. The two parties will conclude a contract for up to 12 recharges for the period 2025-2034 inclusive "Continuous operation of the Kozloduy NPP at maximum capacity is extremely important for the energy and national security of Bulgaria," said Hristov Bulgaria's National Assembly voted in November for an acceleration of the process of securing an alternative to Russia as supplier of nuclear fuel The Bulgarian Ministry of Energy said that European diversification requirements were intended to ensure the security of supply of nuclear materials and services in the nuclear fuel cycle for all organisations operating nuclear power plants within the European Union The Kozloduy plant is in the northwest of Bulgaria on the Danube River and provides about 34% of the country's electricity It features two Russian-designed VVER-1000 units currently in operation which have both been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years Please check that the URL entered is correct or try loading the page again Bulgaria and the US have signed a formal agreement to collaborate on the construction of two new units at the Kozloduy NPP (7&8) signed by Bulgarian Energy Minister Rumen Radev and US Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs Andrew Light outlines cooperation in nuclear power development and technology exchange “We have signed an important international agreement that confirms the commitment of Bulgaria and the US to a strategic nuclear partnership," Radev said following the signing ceremony Bulgaria gains significance for the entire region," Light said Bulgaria and the US have signed a formal agreement to collaborate on the construction of two new units at the Kozloduy NPP (7&8) “We have signed an important international agreement that confirms the commitment of Bulgaria and the US to a strategic nuclear partnership,” Radev said following the signing ceremony Bulgaria gains significance for the entire region,” Light said the cost of electricity generated by new units will be capped at €65 ($70) per megawatt-hour (MWh) The total cost of construction is estimated at €14bn pending a forthcoming report from plant supplier US-based Westinghouse The end of March is the deadline for Westinghouse to submit an engineering report with an indicative price Radev said the government views the construction of the two units as a national endeavour with state participation of 25-30% and financing secured through loans he was optimistic that total project cost could be reduced He affirmed that arrangements have been made for fixed terms and prices to ensure the optimal cost for the project He predicted that future electricity prices would remain competitive Earlier in February, Kozloduy NPP subsidiary, Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild (KZNPP-NM – Kozloduy NPP Novi Mostnosti) announced that five companies had expressed interest in building Kozloduy 7&8 under an EPC (engineering the Bulgarian Parliament by a majority vote decided on the need to build two new reactors using AP1000 technology and obliged the government to negotiate with the US government on this issue In March KZNPP-NM and Westinghouse set up a joint working group to plan deployment of the AP1000 reactor in Bulgaria Westinghouse signed a Front-End Engineering & Design (FEED) contract with KZNPP-NM for a AP1000 reactor to be constructed at the Kozloduy NPP site According to the parliamentary schedule for construction of the new units the construction company must be selected by 30 April 2024 and will then join a consortium with Westinghouse Image: US Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs The Bulgarian Government has given its green light for the construction of Unit 7 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant as well as for the preparatory works for Unit 8 Both units would be Westinghouse Electric AP-1000 reactors and would have a combined capacity of 2,300 MW The government will provide BGN500m (around €250m) to support the project and will start negotiations for new loans with financial institutions to improve financing Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild signed a Front-End Engineering and Design contract with Westinghouse to supply an AP1000 reactor The construction of Kozloduy-7 is expected to be completed in 2033 with Kozloduy-8 following two or three years later Bulgaria has two VVER-1 000 reactors (2x950 MW) at the Kozloduy nuclear plant (units 5 and 6) which are expected to operate until 2027 (unit 5) and 2029 (unit 6) As agreed in the framework of Bulgaria's accession to the European Union the first four reactors of the plants (two 408 MW units and two 440 MW units) were closed in 2003 and 2006 Enerdata has developed a market research service to screen monitor and analyse the development of power generation assets Power Plant Tracker offers an interactive database and a powerful search engine covering power plants worldwide – including both installed and planned capacities for renewables and fossil fuels Register now to subscribe to our informative monthly The vote also urges actions to be taken by 1 March to speed up the process of approval and construction of what would be unit 7 of the Kozloduy plant as well as initiating a licensing and environmental impact assessment procedure for another reactor - which would be unit 8 - at Kozloduy and comes at a time when the country remains in political stalemate after a fourth election in two years failed to produce a permanent government One of the parties which opposed the motion was the left-of-centre BSP It has since been asked by the country's president to see if it could put together a big enough coalition to form a government after two other parties failed in their efforts to do so the BSP’s Rumen Gechev said his parliamentary group did not oppose the new reactors at Kozloduy but voted against because they believed the construction of Belene nuclear power plant should be completed first Bulgaria's two operating Russian-designed VVER-1000 reactors at Kozloduy - units 5 and 6 - generate about one-third of the country's electricity Their first grid connections were in 1987 and 1991 respectively and they have both been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years Kozloduy 1-4 reactors were VVER-440 models which the European Commission had classified as non-upgradeable and Bulgaria agreed to close them down during their negotiations to join the European Union in 2007 The Belene project in northern Bulgaria has been for the construction of two 1000 MWe units and contracts for components including large forgings and I&C systems were signed with suppliers but the project was stymied by financing problems and was suspended in 2012 the government advertised for a strategic investor to participate in the Belene project to build two large reactors but said that neither funding guarantees nor long-term electricity sales contracts would be offered the Bulgarian Council of Ministers approved plans for a seventh unit at Kozloduy and said discussions had been held with the USA’s Westinghouse about making maximum use of the Russian-supplied equipment already purchased for the Belene project which was at the time said to be worth about BGN1.3 billion (USD810 million) was requested by the Bulgarian government and reviewed actions taken in response to recommendations made during the agency's SALTO mission in 2021 Units 5 and 6 at Kozloduy - 1000 MWe pressurised water reactors - went into commercial operation in 1987 and 1991 and have had their licences extended Long Term Operation (LTO) is defined as operation beyond the original licence timeframe senior nuclear safety officer Gabor Petofi said: "The team observed that the operator has completed all major actions to safely operate the reactors in the LTO period. Based on its efforts on recommendations made by the SALTO team in 2021 The team found that these activities are consistent with IAEA Safety Standards for safe long-term operation." The IAEA experts said the plant had finished the ageing management review for mechanical components and cables completed the requalification programme for safety-related electrical and cables components and had "analysed the situation related to human resources for the intended period of LTO and extended the human resources policy and strategy accordingly" However further work was necessary to ensure that the new ageing management programmes developed for mechanical components and cables are properly implemented this is the final step of the IAEA’s supporting service to ensure safe operation of our reactors in the LTO period The IAEA SALTO missions and technical cooperation helped to improve our continued focus on safe operation. We have worked together with the IAEA for the past eight years carrying out four missions and several technical discussions We appreciate the IAEA’s support of our plant in managing ageing and preparation for safe LTO and we will continue to improve our processes to further comply with IAEA Safety Standards." The IAEA safety standards say that to "maintain a plant’s fitness for service as well as to reasonably practicable safety upgrades to enhance the safety of the plant to a level approaching that of modern plants" At the end of the visit the SALTO mission team provided a draft report to the plant management who have the chance to make factual comments before a final report is submitted to the Bulgarian government and Nuclear Regulatory Agency within the next three months Kozloduy units 1-4 were VVER-440 models which the European Commission had classified as non-upgradeable and Bulgaria agreed to close them down during their negotiations to join the European Union in 2007 Units 5 and 6 feature VVER-1000 reactors that have been through refurbishment and life extension programmes to enable extension of operation from 30 to 60 years Westinghouse signed a 10-year agreement to supply fuel to Kozloduy unit 5 from 2024 The contract followed a vote by Bulgaria's National Assembly the previous month for an acceleration of the process of securing an alternative to Russia as supplier of nuclear fuel An agreement signed with Framatome in January sets out the schedule of future negotiations and the conclusion of a contract for the supply of fuel for unit 6 The two parties will conclude a contract for up to 12 recharges for the period 2025-2034 inclusive Energy Minister Rossen Hristov in January set out an energy strategy for 2023 to 2053 for Bulgaria which includes plans for two new reactors at Kozloduy and two at Belene where a project to construct two VVER-1000 units was suspended in 2012 Kozloduy NPP - New capacities EAD concluded a legal cooperation agreement with the American law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman (Pillsbury) during the Bulgarian Acting Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov’s visit there executive director of the state-owned company tasked with implementing the project Pillsbury is an international law firm with over 50 years of experience in the field of nuclear energy It is responsible for the preparation of engineering and construction contracts The announcement does not specify the terms of the contract and its price The law firm's portfolio includes comprehensive legal services for some of the most successful new nuclear capacity projects in recent years such as the Barakah NPP in the United Arab Emirates and the Akkuyu NPP in Turkey The involvement of an international law firm of the rank of Pillsbury in the project will assist in the proper structuring and implementation of the project The engagement by Kozloduy NPP - New Capacities EAD of an international legal consultant with the experience and expertise of Pillsbury is an important step towards the successful implementation of the project for the construction of the 7th and 8th units at the Kozloduy NPP site,” said the Bulgarian Minister of Energy He also met with Westinghouse Executive Vice President for International Markets and Chief Commercial Officer Jacques Besnainou as well as with other representatives from the company's management there was an emphasis on the need to finalize the signing of the engineering contract between Kozloduy NPP - New Capacities EAD and the consortium composed of Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea) and Westinghouse Electric (USA) We are confident that the joint work of companies of that rank is a guarantee for the implementation of the large-scale project for the construction of new capacities in our country within the set deadlines" He defined the construction of Kozloduy NPP’s 7th and 8th units as strategically important not only for Bulgaria but also for the entire region of Southeast Europe in the context of achieving carbon neutrality goals this project will strengthen the role of Bulgaria which has 50 years of experience in the operation of nuclear power The regulator said the application submitted by the plant for the use of fuel of the Robust Westinghouse Fuel Assembly (RWFA) design in Kozloduy 5 comprises more than 80 documents totaling more than 8400 pages "mostly technical documentation and safety analyses" The Nuclear Regulatory Agency noted the first step of the licensing process is for it to check whether all the necessary documents have been submitted in accordance with the requirements Bulgaria's National Assembly voted in November last year for an acceleration of the process of securing an alternative to Russia as supplier of nuclear fuel it was announced Kozloduy unit 5 is to switch from Russian fuel with a ten-year contract for Westinghouse to fabricate and deliver VVER-1000 nuclear fuel The fuel will be supplied from Westinghouse's fabrication site in Västerås with licensing expected over the next year The RWFA design is an evolution of Westinghouse's previous VVER-1000 fuel design which was first introduced as lead test assemblies in South Ukraine unit 3 in 2005 The Kozloduy plant has also signed an agreement with France's Framatome for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel for the sixth unit The construction of Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy NPP is a key step towards ensuring Bulgaria's energy security The project is of strategic importance both for our country and for the region of Southeastern Europe This was stated by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov at a meeting with a delegation from Hyundai Engineering and Construction The Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov and the Executive Director of Kozloduy NPP - New Capacity Petyo Ivanov also participated in the conversation at the Council of Ministers the Council of Ministers reported on its Facebook profile The project for new nuclear capacity at the Kozloduy NPP site was the focus of today's meeting in the Council of Ministers after the implementation of the engineering contract between "Kozloduy NPP - New Capacity" and the consortium consisting of the Bulgarian branches of "Westinghouse Energy Systems" and "Hyundai Engineering and Construction" started at the end of last year The implementation of the contract will support the regulatory steps for the implementation of the project as well as the calculation of future investment and operating costs It is expected that by the end of this year there will be clarity on the term and methods of financing the construction of the new nuclear capacity in our country there is a green light for the construction of only one unit near Kozloduy using AP 1000 technology An application has been submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Agency for consideration of the project for Unit Eight The environmental impact assessment procedure for this site is still ongoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov assured that the Bulgarian side will do everything necessary to accelerate the implementation process without this being at the expense of quality implementation We attach great importance to security during construction as well as the safe operation of the units in the future The Prime Minister was categorical that the project must comply with all national and European rules and standards The project was implemented with the financial support of the Agency for People with Disabilities Contract 6 - StN / 10/06/21 анд Contract № 2 - StN / 23.05.2023 г 3E-news.net by Dir.bg © 2025 All rights reserved. Reporting by Stoyan Nenov; Writing by Daria Sito-Sucic; Editing by Jan Harvey Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. All rights reserved Sofia wants first of two new Westinghouse AP1000 reactors to be ready by 2035 The project company "Kozloduy NPP - New Capacities" EAD signed a continuation of the contract for preliminary engineering activities (FEED) with Westinghouse Electric Company (Westinghouse Electric Company) for the construction of the 7th and 8th units with AP1000 type reactors at the site of the NPP " Kozloduy" The continuation of the engineering of the new nuclear facilities confirms the progress made in the implementation of the key design phase "The signing of the document is another important step in the process of implementing the strategic project for Bulgaria and the region for the construction of new nuclear facilities," stressed Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov The progress of "Kozloduy NPP - New capacities" EAD and Westinghouse Electric Company in the implementation of the activities related to the design phase shows the full commitment to the implementation of the project following the schedule adopted by the decision of the National Assembly of 18.12.2023 "The construction of new nuclear facilities at the site of the Kozloduy NPP will guarantee the long-term achievement of energy security in Bulgaria and the region of South-Eastern Europe The implementation of the project will create high added value for the Bulgarian economy through the active participation of the local industry in all phases One of the most significant projects in Europe will significantly contribute to the implementation of the transition to a low-carbon economy," Minister Malinov stressed We remind you that in June 2023 "Kozloduy NPP - New Capacities" EAD and Westinghouse Electric Company signed a contract for preliminary engineering activities within which to evaluate the advantages of the site at Kozloduy NPP for the deployment of two nuclear units type AP1000 as well as to analyze the possibilities of the Bulgarian industry for active participation in the project After the completion of the activities under the contract it is expected to provide engineering services related to the design project management and engineering development of the Kozloduy NPP site for the deployment of two new 3+ generation AP1000 nuclear units 3E-news.net by Dir.bg © 2025 All rights reserved Lawmakers want first Westinghouse AP1000 online by end of 2034 Bulgaria has two Russia-designed VVER-1000 pressurised water reactor units in commercial operation at Kozloduy on the Danube River in the north of the country provide about one third of the country’s electricity The country currently receives nuclear fuel from Russia’s state-owned Tvel under a 2019 contract which is set to expire in 2025 Bulgaria’s parliament passed a motion to speed up licensing procedures and potential supply of non-Russian nuclear fuel for Kozloduy Energy minister Rosen Hristov said at the time that apart from Russia’s Tvel only Westinghouse and Framatome could supply fuel for VVER-1000 PWR designs He told journalists at a press conference on Thursday that receiving supplies from Tvel in 2024 would not be possible because the Russian side had asked for changes to the contract which had been “unacceptable” Mr Hristov said supplies from Russia had been “in question” due to Moscow's “reluctance to cooperate” According to local news agency Mediapool Mr Hristov said Tvel was unable to deliver nuclear fuel by sea with a ban on maritime travel under a bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to Russia Mediapool said Tvel is expected to deliver six more batches of nuclear fuel for Kozloduy but it remains likely the contract could be terminated before its expiry at the end of 2024.