site.btaBulgarian PM in Brussels: Nuclear Energy Is Important for National, Global Energy Security

Nuclear energy plays an important role in guaranteeing the national, regional, and global energy security, outgoing Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said at a Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels on Thursday. Nuclear energy is a key element for achieving the EU's goals of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and progress towards a climate-neutral economy: priorities that are key in Bulgaria's energy policy as well, Denkov added, as quoted by the Government Information Service. 

The Nuclear Energy Forum was aimed at sending a strong message to the international community on the importance of nuclear energy and technologies as a means to fight climate change and achieve the climate-neutrality goals.

In his speech, Denkov recalled that Bulgaria has a proven 50-year experience in the safe and secure use of nuclear power plants as well as unique experience in closing down nuclear units. "We will continue to rely on nuclear energy as a main factor in the country's energy balance in the conditions of high technology, production efficiency, lack of greenhouse gas emissions, competitive prices, and high level of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection," he noted. Denkov put an emphasis on investment in a new generation of technologies and diversification as a cornerstone of Bulgaria's national strategy. He emphasized the significant importance of international cooperation and the leading role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Denkov also talked about safety and security of nuclear installations as a main factor for nuclear energy's development. He described Russia's war against Ukraine as the greatest threat to safety and security. The illegal occupation of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant by Russia has led to unprecedented violations of nuclear safety and security that threaten Ukraine and the wider European region. "We congratulate IAEA experts' professional and irreplaceable work on preventing a nuclear disaster in Ukraine. We call on Russia to relinquish full control to the Ukrainian authorities' and to immediately withdraw its troops from Ukraine's territory in its internationally recognized borders," the outgoing Prime Minister said.