12 new reactors: Bulgaria with ambition to become a European “nuclear hub”

Bulgaria has an ambition to become a European "nuclear energy hub" by being the first country in the EU with an operating AP1000 reactor. This was made clear by speeches made at a symposium organised in Sofia by the US company Westinghouse, which is the tech supplier for the new units at the Kozloduy NPP.

Nuclear hopes 

Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov emphasized that the construction of units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy NPP is not just an energy project, but a strategic investment with a regional scope. 

If we manage to secure buyers for the electricity produced, there is no reason to stop with the seventh and eighth units," said Delyan Dobrev, MP from GERB and chairman of the budget committee, quoted by BTA.

According to him, there is a possibility of building four more units on the territory of the Kozloduy NPP, and up to eight AP1000 reactors in Belene, since the nuclear plant site there was originally designed for six Russian units, while the American ones are smaller. 

That is, a total of 12 new reactors, and with the two already operating, the government's ambition is to have a total of 14 nuclear units on the Bulgarian territory.

We need to set high goals. Units seven and eight are just the beginning. How many units Bulgaria will build will depend on the number of electricity buyers. If these are available, the state will provide the necessary guarantees," Dobrev emphasized.

According to him, Bulgaria has the potential not only to be the first in Europe to have AP1000 units built, but also to become a hub for nuclear power generation and for the development of artificial intelligence centers.

What’s the project’s progress?

Behind the big promises, however, there remain questions that have yet to find definitive answers. For instance: how much will the project cost, and where will the funding come from? 

Stankov added that work is currently underway on the financing and coordination of the new nuclear project with the European Commission.

As for financing, we are working on a structure that allows for 20-30 percent equity capital to be provided, and the remaining 70-80 percent to be obtained in the form of debt capital," said Petyo Ivanov, the executive director of Kozloduy NPP - New Builds.

The project already has an approved site and an EIA, but the main decision on the construction of the seventh and eighth units of the Kozloduy NPP is pending, with the final investment decision expected to be made in 2026, Ivanov added. The decision should be based on an assessment of the capital and operating costs of the project, and securing the necessary financing will be of key importance. The choice of suppliers of equipment and materials will also be important.

In terms of ​​licensing, it is necessary to prepare and submit the relevant documentation in order to apply for a design permit from the nuclear regulator, as well as for a construction permit for the preparation of the activities on the site, Ivanov added. He stressed that it is important to establish what is missing on the site and what the weaknesses are in the legal framework, in order for the AP1000 reactor project to be successfully implemented. That is why a second round of negotiations will be held today, with the main emphasis on reviewing the initial document with the conditions. Before the final investment decision, efforts need to be made to clarify the structure of the contracts, so that the commitments between the owner and the contractor are completely clear.

An extremely important aspect is the localization of the project, which must be expressed in specific values. It is necessary to have traceability in the documentation and invoices that will be generated subsequently, said Ivanov. According to him, many Bulgarian companies will take part in the project, including activities such as equipment control and management.

A procedure for selecting a chief engineer is currently underway, with a contract expected to be signed by the end of May. A financial consultant is also being selected.

Intensive work is being done to comply with the licensing regime. It is also necessary to issue a construction permit from the Ministry of Regional Development. The activities related to issuing a design permit from the regulator are also about to begin.

A consultant has already been hired for the environmental and water impact assessment. The relevant decision is expected to be issued by the relevant ministry next year.

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov