site.btaBulgarian Energy Minister Malinov, USTDA Regional Director Kress Discuss Deepening of Energy Cooperation

Bulgarian caretaker Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and Carl B. Kress, Regional Director for US Trade and Development Agency's (USTDA) programs in the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and Eurasia, discussed opportunities for deepening cooperation in the energy sector, the Energy Ministry said in a press release on Saturday. USTDA funds key projects and collaborates with companies to develop sustainable infrastructure and spur economic development in partner countries. At Bulgaria's Energy Ministry, Kress presented the main criteria that USTDA-supported projects must meet.

Malinov said that Bulgaria sees USTDA as a reliable partner for the implementation of the country's main priorities in the energy sector. "Together we will exchange experiences and build expertise to successfully respond to the challenges of the sector's transformation," he noted.

The meeting also discussed specific project proposals in the areas of nuclear power, nuclear waste management, hydrogen development, power grid expansion, among others.

Some of the potential areas of cooperation between USTDA and the Kozloduy nuclear power plant are: capacity building in terms of regulations for AP1000 reactors; training of specialists for the construction of the new units at the Kozloduy NPP site; expertise in Environmental Impact Assessment; feasibility studies; systems expansion and upgrades related to nuclear fuel diversification.

It transpired at the meeting that state-owned gas transmission operator Bulgartransgaz has applied to USTDA to fund a feasibility study on a pilot project to produce and use green hydrogen for process needs at the Chiren Underground Gas Storage facility (Northwestern Bulgaria). Bulgartransgaz is working on the future development of hydrogen transmission infrastructure as well as adapting the existing gas transmission system to handle hydrogen-gas mixtures.

Bulgaria's State Enterprise Radioactive Waste is working on a feasibility study on the possibility of using US technology for the possible deep borehole disposal of spent nuclear fuel from the Kozloduy NPP. Upon approval by the Radioactive Waste Fund Board, a grant agreement with USTDA is pending.

Furthermore, Bulgaria's Electricity System Operator and USTDA could cooperate in exploratory activities for an East-West energy corridor to connect the operators of Turkey, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Albania, Montenegro and Italy. Expanding the possibilities to share electricity produced between the different countries will contribute to energy security and improve market conditions in the region.