The Bulgarian government has announced that it will build at least one nuclear reactor at the functioning Kozloduy Nuclear power plant on the banks of the Danube river.
Deputy Prime Minister for Bulgaria, Asen Vassilev. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Bulgarian government has announced that it will build at least one nuclear reactor at the functioning Kozloduy Nuclear power plant on the banks of the Danube river.
In a statement to the media, Deputy Prime Minister Asen Vassilev said: “The Ministry of Energy has started a study for the rapid construction of another nuclear reactor, most likely in Kozloduy because this is a ready-made site with an environmental assessment and a working team.”
It is estimated that if the project starts this year, the reactor will begin operating between 2028-30. Bulgaria could build a second new nuclear reactor to have a total of 4 operating nuclear power units. Bulgaria has 2 new unused Russian nuclear reactors, but it is unclear whether it can use them because that means inviting the Russian corporation Rosatom to participate in the project.
The Bulgarian government also stated that Greece is interested in buying electricity from a future new nuclear power plant in the country.
Bulgaria’s strategic goal is not to replace its own coal with Russian gas because it will lose additional sovereignty. In addition to this, Bulgaria will not use gas as a transitional fuel to implement the Green Deal.
Bulgaria plans to build a huge energy park to store electricity produced from renewable sources, and the idea is to produce batteries in the country itself. Deputy Prime Minister Vassilev said: “In order to be able to take the energy and use it when we need it, we need to store it. In connection with the planned future production of batteries in Bulgaria, all major battery manufacturers in the world have already been invited, and the project will be led by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.”
The reactor could become operational between 2028-2030.
Commenting on the Russian war in Ukraine, Vassilev said: “In terms of electricity, we not very dependent on this war. There is fuel for the Kozloduy nuclear power plant until 2025. Coal is a Bulgarian national resource. There is enough water in the dams (for hydroelectric power plants). Only gas power plants are connected to the war and external energy sources and their prices.”
Related: Nuclear New Builds 2022 Forum – Bringing together top decision-makers in Nuclear New Build technologies from around the world.
