site.btaWestinghouse Electric Signs MoUs with Bulgarian Suppliers for Kozloduy NPP Projects

Westinghouse Electric Company on Friday signed memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with 17 significant Bulgarian suppliers to support the delivery and installation of two AP1000 reactors on the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant site (Northwestern Bulgaria) and other projects throughout the region, the company said in a press release. It explained that this signing is the result of an ongoing supply chain expansion engagement with local suppliers following a Westinghouse Supplier Symposium, held in February 2024 with Bulgarian companies.

The signed MOUs outline the potential for manufacturing of key components, including large structural modules, cranes, heat exchangers and pressure vessels, as well as providing various engineering, transportation, consulting and construction services. The suppliers concerned are Atomenergoremont JSC, Bulmachinery Enterprises Ltd., Bureau Veritas Bulgaria, Centralna Energoremontna Baza EAD, ELIA AD, Energoremont-Galabovo AD, Himmash JSC, Industrial Parts Ltd., KMC JSC, Kranostroene Engineering LTD, MTG-Dolphin PLC, PODEMCRANE AD, Tia Logistics LTD, TM INOX Ltd., Biomashinostroene AD, Bularmex-IK JSCo, and Micromet AD.

“Enlisting local companies and ensuring high localization of work on the AP1000 project at Kozloduy remains a crucial objective,” said Kozloduy NPP-New Builds PLC Executive Director Petyo Ivanov. “We expect these Bulgarian companies to become a vital part of the Westinghouse worldwide supply chain, more specifically for all their European new built projects,” he added.

“Westinghouse has a robust supply chain network across the world, and we are pleased to further expand that with additional, experienced and local Bulgarian suppliers to support the successful delivery of two AP1000 reactors at the Kozloduy site,” said Westinghouse Energy Systems President David Durham. “Growth of our local and qualified supplier network in addition to the critical progress we are making on our front-end engineering and design contract for this project are important steps that help us to pave the way to bring a clean energy future to Bulgaria for generations to come,” he added.

In October 2023, Westinghouse signed MOUs with five other Bulgarian suppliers for Kozloduy and other European projects, including for the manufacture of instrumentation and controls (I&C) systems, radiation monitoring systems and various services.

In January 2023, the National Assembly resolved that Units 7 and 8 are to be built in Kozloduy using Westinghouse's AR1000 technology.

In June 2023, Westinghouse was awarded a front-end engineering and design contract with Kozloduy NPP-Newbuilds PLC project for its AP1000 technology.

In mid-March 2024, the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA) said that the licensing process for Unit 7 of the NPP is at the site approval stage, with an order issued by the NRA Chair approving the selected site. Next, NPP Kozloduy-New Builds must apply for a design permit. Effective solutions should be sought to start the licensing procedure for Unit 8, the regulator said.