site.btaEnergy Minister Malinov: Nuclear Energy Cooperation with US Is Leading Factor for Ensuring Energy Security

"Our cooperation with the US in the field of nuclear energy is a leading factor in ensuring energy security not only in Bulgaria, but in the entire region of Southeast Europe," said Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov, meeting with David Wright, Commissioner of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, quoted by his ministry. Minister Malinov highlighted the active efforts of the two countries to diversify the energy sector in Bulgaria as a top priority.

"For the first time in its fifty-year history, the fifth unit of Kozloduy N-plant has been replenished with alternative fuel - that of Westinghouse," the Energy Minister said, highlighting the multilateral benefits of these efforts for the security of the energy sector. "Following the successful implementation and sustainable operation of Unit 5 with fuel from the US company Westinghouse, a possibility of using several cartridges with the same fuel for Unit 6 of the nuclear power plant is currently being considered," Minister Malinov added. During the talks, the two agreed that the exchange of experience and know-how between experts from both countries in the field of nuclear energy should continue actively.

Minister Malinov briefed Commissioner Wright on the Bulgarian interest in the development of small modular reactor technologies as a flexible option to complement the energy mix and ensure energy security and independence. "We are actively exploring these technologies and believe that they can be an excellent option for complementary energy capacity that fully meets the decarbonization requirements of the industry and which takes less time and financial resources to build than conventional nuclear reactors," said Minister Malinov. 

Contacts between Bulgaria and the US on the project for the construction of new nuclear power capacity at the Kozloduy NPP site were also on the agenda of talks between Minister Malinov and Commissioner David Wright. The Energy Minister stressed the need to implement the construction of a new nuclear capacity at the Kozloduy NPP site as soon as possible. In his words, the choice of the AP 1000 technology of the American company Westinghouse and the world leader in the construction of nuclear units Hyundai Engineering & Construction is a guarantee for the successful implementation of the project.