site.btaBulgaria Will Need EUR 2.7 Bln to Finalize Decommissioning of Soviet Nuclear Reactors

Bulgaria Will Need EUR 2.7 Bln to Finalize Decommissioning of Soviet Nuclear Reactors

Brussels, September 20 (BTA correspondent Nikolay Jeliazkov) - Bulgaria will need 2.7 billion euro to complete the decommissioning of its old Soviet-designed nuclear reactors, finds a report by the European Court of Auditors published on Tuesday. Of these Bulgaria will have to provide 348 million euro in national financing.

The Court recommends the closure of the decommissioning programme in Bulgaria, Slovakia and Lithuania from 2020. From then onwards the EU should provide financing only if there is a clear schedule of necessary activities.

The EU has set aside funds for the decommissioning of eight reactors, four of which operated in Bulgaria's nuclear power plant Kozloduy. By 2020 the EU has earmarked 3.8 billion euro for decommissioning activities in the three countries. The Court estimates that costs will total 5.7 billion euro and double that amount if costs for disposal of the spent fuel are included.

The European Commission said earlier that the funds that have been earmarked will not be increased. Tuesday's report states that Bulgaria and Slovakia are still to dismantle the reactor buildings in order to say that the process has reached an irreversible status. Among observations contained in the report is a need to seek innovative technological solutions.

The Court urges the three countries to adopt the 'polluter pays' principle and be prepared to cover the costs for disposal of spent fuel. Among the observations is that Bulgaria has a shortage of 28 million euro.

Data suggest that by 2020 Bulgaria will receive 1.14 billion euro in EU funds, with 293 million euro between 2014 and 2020,the smallest amount yet. Bulgaria receives 30 per cent of funds set aside under EU's decommissioning programme, and 31 per cent of decommissioning costs are covered by the national budget.