Belene NPP to be replaced by a new reactor at Kozloduy NPP

Georgi Velev


"Bulgaria could use the ordered Russian reactor for the Belene Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) at the Kozloduy NPP," said yesterday Minister of Economy, Energy and Tourism Traicho Traikov. He attended an extraordinary meeting of Energy Ministers in Brussels on the safety of the European NPPs.

"Using the unit at the Kozloduy NPP is a reserve option which has not been discussed with the Russian experts yet," added he. The Minister, however, pointed out that the efforts were currently focused on the development of the project in its current framework. A new round of negotiations on the construction of the Belene NPP is expected to take place this week. At the end of the month, the additional supplement to the contract, signed between the National Electricity Company (NEK) and the project contractor Atomstroyexport, expires. If it is not renewed, the Russian side may request a penalty of up to € 1 bn for the project suspension.

"Building a new reactor near Kozloduy would mean termination of the Belene NPP project in its current form", said further Traikov. According to him, if such an option is chosen, the construction of the 7th unit can be completed within 15 months. "Belene is a site prepared for a nuclear power plant and could be reactivated at any moment, particularly having in mind the technological developments in nuclear energy nowadays," the Minister explained. According to him, in the next 10-20 years, reactors with significantly improved economic parameters and security systems will be offered . "The Russian Rosatom corporation has explained several times that the unit ordered by NEK is almost completed", added Traikov.

Прочети цялата новина

Свързани новини: