site.btaEducation Minister: More Scholarships for Students in Nuclear Energy-Related Fields

The state is already applying a number of incentives to encourage interest in fields of study important for the nuclear power industry - fee waivers, increased admissions and incentives for universities. “We will also increase scholarships to make them more attractive for young people,” said Education Minister Krasimir Valchev, quoted by the press centre of his ministry. Valchev, together with Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov, held talks with the management of Kozloduy N-plant on Tuesday.

The two ministers committed themselves to the preparation of a national programme and a plan for the training of personnel in line with the plan for the expansion of the nuclear power plant. "The construction of the new facilities will be the most important project for the coming decades, but it is even more important to have the necessary personnel. Together with the Education Ministry, a programme will be drawn up to recruit the personnel, and we expect the plant to provide us with a detailed analysis of the needs by speciality," Stankov explained. Valchev added that in a very short period of time the Ministry can propose specific incentives for secondary and higher education so that they can be implemented from the next school year. “The scholarship can reach BGN 1,000 per month if we consider that this will ensure the necessary staff for the industry,” he explained.

Valchev committed to providing priority investments to improve conditions and encourage students during his meeting with the principal of the Igor Kurchatov Vocational School of Nuclear Energy and the teaching staff. The school was also visited by Minister Zhecho Stankov together with representatives of Hyundai Engineering &Construction and Westinghouse. They also got acquainted with the project for the construction of a Centre of Excellence at the school.

Valchev said that at present, the Kozloduy N-plant needs 76 more nuclear engineers. CEO Ivan Andreev said that, on average, between 130 and 150 people retire from the company every year.

A total of 468 students are studying at the Igor Kurchatov Vocational School of Nuclear Energy in Kozloduy, 80 of whom are in dual training. This is the only school in Bulgaria that trains nuclear technicians.