site.btaKozloduy NPP's Unit 5 Scheduled Maintenance Completed

Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant's Unit 5 was reconnected to the grid at 9.53 am on Monday after scheduled maintenance which started on May 5 following inspection and approval by the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (BNRA). As part of Kozloduy NPP's programme to diversify nuclear fuel supplies, 43 fuel assemblies manufactured by Westinghouse were loaded into the reactor. This marks the beginning of a four-year process of Unit 5's phased transition to RWFA nuclear fuel.

On April 22, the Nuclear Regulatory Agency issued a permit to the Kozloduy NPP for a transition to the new type of nuclear fuel manufactured by Westinghouse. 

The first fuel assemblies were delivered in April after the BNRA issued a storage permit for RWFA fuel on the site. A mandatory inspection carried out at the time of delivery confirmed that all fuel assemblies met the requirements set out in the contract with Westinghouse for manufacture and delivery of the nuclear fuel assemblies.

During the maintenance, the necessary repairs were carried out in accordance with the licensing obligations and the safe operation requirements. Preventive maintenance, functional tests, checks, specialized inspections and diagnostic non-destructive testing were carried out.

The planned set of measures aimed at improving safety and securing the long-term operation of the unit has been implemented on schedule.