site.btaUPDATED First Nuclear Fuel Produced by Westinghouse Electric Arrives at Kozloduy NPP Site

Caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov said that the first delivery of fresh nuclear fuel produced by Westinghouse Electric - Sweden is already at the site of the Nuclear Power Plant Kozloduy. Malinov, together with caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev, participated in the welcoming of the first 43 cartridges with nuclear fuel, which will be loaded in Unit 5 of the nuclear power plant.

Malinov explained that steps for fuel diversification were taken in 2019, but the process started years ago. "It is not by chance that I am here today, because I participated in the talks with Westinghouse in 2009-2020," said Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev.

Minister Malinov explained that the Nuclear Regulatory Agency has already issued a license for the storage of the fuel, and the license for its use is expected to be issued on Monday. He received an assurance from the management of the Kozloduy NPP that the fuel will be loaded into the reactor during the repair of the unit in May. "I was informed by the entire management staff of the nuclear power plant that the process will go normally and the Bulgarian population can be calm from the point of view of security and safety," Minister Malinov also pointed out.

Work on the construction of the 7th and 8th units of Kozloduy NPP is progressing according to the schedule set by the National Assembly, MPs Dilyan Dobrev and Stanislav Anastasov announced.

"This project, unlike Belene, is structured in the most correct way - we are not ordering equipment without having secured financing, without having a contract and without knowing how much this plant will cost," said Dilyan Dobrev, who is chairman of the energy committee in Parliament.

In his words, what lies ahead in the next one year is negotiating the specific parameters in terms of price, structuring the financing for the entire project and making a final investment decision that will make the construction of units 7 and 8 irreversible. According to expectations, construction should start around the end of 2025.

MP Stanislav Anastasov added that the two new units will use the most advanced technology available at the moment.