Bulgaria needs further € 2.5 bn to dismantle the small nuclear power units

Bulgaria, Slovakia and Lithuania need further € 2.5 bn in order to decommission the altogether eight reactors at their nuclear power plants, according to the conclusionя of the report of the European Court of Auditors, which was published yesterday, reported BNR (Bulgarian National Radio). The document fails to specify, however, the exact amount needed additionally by each country. So far, Bulgaria has been granted over € 500 mln for the closure of the small units. According to the calculations of the Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism, the dismantling of the four 440-MW reactors will require a total of € 1.117 bn.

In fact, late last year the European Commission decided to allocate another € 185 mln to aid the decommissioning of the nuclear units near the NPP Kozloduy. The total financial aid projected for Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia amounts to € 500 mln. The funds will contribute to the continuation of the safe decommissioning of NPP Kozloduy, NPP Ignalina and NPP Bohunitse. Brussels announced that the EU grant was aimed at achieving the final decommissioning and elimination of major sources of radiation hazard. In return, the EU demanded from Bulgaria to fully introduce the EU legislation on nuclear safety and waste management, which also means undertaking the commitment for constructing a repository for permanent spent fuel storage in our country.

Currently, the State Enterprise Radioactive Waste is making the necessary preparation for the construction of such a repository. The company also owns the first two blocks of NPP Kozloduy, whose dismantling should be launched within a few years.

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