Yordan Kostadinov, former executive director of the Kozloduy NPP: A unit at Kozloduy will cost as much as two at the Belene NPP

Georgi Velev

- Mr. Kostadinov, what do you think of the idea of moving the equipment for the Belene NPP (Nuclear Power Plant) to the site of the Kozloduy NPP? Is this possible?
- Anything is possible but the question is at what price. In order to move this equipment there, the site should first be licenced by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency. And the licencing process takes some 2 or 3 years. If anyone believes that the construction of a plant can begin immediately at the site of the Kozloduy NPP, where four units have been decommissioned and two generators are operating, they are very much mistaken. A licence is necessary for each new unit and this is not a simple task. In the first place, it should be borne in mind that the site has not been licenced for building a new generator. Moreover, there should be a decision of the Council of Ministers for such an undertaking. In addition, a technical specification and a technology for the future nuclear unit must be selected and only then can we proceed with the implementation of the project. What has been mentioned by Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Traicho Traikov is nonsensical.
If a decision is made now to do something at the site of the Kozloduy NPP, the new generator can be put in operation no earlier than 15 years from now. The procedure for the technical specification and design, the tender and the construction would take about 10 to 12 years.

- Could only one unit be constructed at the site or should there be two?
- It would be like mounting the latest model of a Mercedes engine on an old Skoda. The equipment of the Kozloduy NPP is outdated. Some of the facilities there have not undergone an overhaul for 32 years. Besides, this equipment has a service life corresponding to the lifetime of the generators which are now operating. I can bet as an expert that a generator at the Kozloduy NPP would cost us as much as two at the Belene NPP. In addition, all ancillary facilities at such units are meant to service two generators and not just one.

- Why, before the expiry of the latest supplement 11 to the agreement between NEK (National Electric Company) and Atomstroyexport, have we started talking about this project?
- It is time to make a decision on this issue, I believe. There are two thermoelectric power plants (TPP) in the Maritsa basin at present, working with fixed prices, quantities and years. Their prices are about BGN 130/MWh and even higher. If the construction of a power plant such as the Belene NPP begins now, while the price of energy from TPPs is rising, what happens? Will anyone ask the question what shall we do with the expensive power from these two TPPs?
When the incumbent Government in Poland assumed power it revoked all signed long-term contracts with fixed prices and quantities. In Bulgaria, the owners of these two power stations are doing everything possible so that the construction of a new nuclear capacity would not begin. Things are purely economic.

- Do you agree with the forecast of Minister Traikov that the electricity from the Belene NPP will not cost more than BGN 100/MWh?
- Yes, but after how many years? When the plant is ready, this price will appear very attractive. And, meanwhile, the price of the electricity generated by the Thermoelectric Power Plants (TPP) will reach up to BGN 200/MWh. Two important details should be considered as well. In 2015, we have to close down three units at TPP Varna, TPP Bobov Dol and TPP Ruse. So, according to the Head of the Electricity System Operator, Ivan Yotov, at that time, our energy system will have as much electricity as it needs.

But don’t forget that if only 10% of automobiles start running on electricity, we will need a new capacity of 300 MW. Additionally, as members of the European energy system, we must keep a reserve capacity of 20%. If we want economic growth at home to continue, then any increase in GDP of 1% will lead to 0.7% greater electricity production. This data is from a World Bank report. You can decide by yourself whether we need this capacity or not. Let macroeconomists say what the pace of development of our economy will be in the coming years and then we will be able to calculate what capacity we will need.

We cannot consider the energy sector at a national level alone. If we want to have something valuable, we have to look at the sector at a regional level. Bulgaria has almost nothing to offer for export.

The export of electricity to Balkan countries is still a factor in our total exports at present. Turkey, for example, is developing in a very dynamic way. Its population increases by about 1 million people per year. Its consumption is less than 3 MW per person annually. They have set a very high goal for themselves - to reach some of the most developed countries. This means that Turkey should achieve growth comparable to that of Germany which currently uses 9 MW of electricity per person, annually. Ankara aims at doubling its actual 42,000 MW installed capacity in the next 20 years. But in practise this is impossible. For us, this will be a huge market and, if it is being offered to us on a platter, we should not run away but should think how to get there.

Прочети цялата новина

Свързани новини: