site.btaSeptember 26, 2002: Bulgaria Undertakes to Decommission Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant's Units 3 and 4 as Part of EU Accession Talks

On September 26, 2002, Bulgaria’s government at the time approved this country’s position on the Energy chapter in its EU membership talks, including the decommissioning of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant's Units 3 and 4.

Here is BTA's Bulgarian-language report on the decision:

New Formula for Nuclear Reactors 3, 4 Incorporated into Bulgaria's Position for EU Membership Talks

The Government-proposed formula for the decommissioning of Units 3 and 4 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant is now incorporated into the country's position for the EU membership negotiations on the Energy chapter, European Affairs Minister Meglena Kouneva and Energy Minister Milko Kovachev told the press Thursday. Earlier in the day, the Council of Ministers approved additional information supplementing the national position on the Energy chapter.

Bulgaria accepts the fixing of the year 2006 in the Energy chapter as the date for closure of Units 3 and 4 on condition that the Atomic Questions Group (AQG) with the Council of the European Union conducts a technological check and the results are taken into consideration. In accordance with this formula, the Government proposes that the Energy chapter be closed conditionally and then reopened upon completion of the expert check, when it will be possible to review the closure dates for the two reactors.

If the AQG fails to conduct the technological review of the safety of Units 3 and 4, requested by Bulgaria, the Energy chapter will not be closed, Energy Minister Kovachev said, taking a question. "We would not mind fixing any date for the closure of Units 3 and 4, provided that we receive guarantees that such a technological check will be conducted and that the results from the check will be taken into account," Kovachev said.

According to Kouneva, "the Government would not have assumed the risk involved in putting forward the new formula if the circumstances had not been studied in advance." The European Affairs Minister said there is actually no risk in demanding a technological check because she has full confidence in the Energy Ministry's view concerning the safety of the two reactors.

"We are now beginning intensive consultations, and I hope that our efforts will yield results within the period of the Danish presidency of the EU," Kouneva said.

Asked whether a "contingency scenario" has been considered in the event of refusal to conduct a technological check, Kouneva said it is now important to focus all efforts on the course of action proposed by the Government. "It is too early to talk about Plan B. Let us be more optimistic," she said.

Asked whether Bulgaria may be requested to review its positions on Units 1 and 2, Kovachev said "this issue has been settled definitively and Bulgaria will honour all its commitments to the EU concerning their closure."

In its next report on Bulgaria's progress towards EU membership, the European Commission is expected to acknowledge that Bulgaria has made very significant progress in the energy sector, Kouneva said.