site.btaKozloduy N-plant, Westinghouse Electric Company Sign Safety Analysis Contract for Alternative Fuel for Unit 6

Representatives of Kozloduy N-plant and Westinghouse Electric Company on Friday signed a contract for the development of safety analyses for licensing and implementation of alternative nuclear fuel type at Unit 6 of the Bulgarian nuclear power plant. The signing took place in the presence of Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and Westinghouse Electric Company President and CEO Patrick Fragman.

The document was signed by N-plant Executive Director Ivan Andreev and Tarik Choho, President of Nuclear Fuel of Westinghouse.

Patrick Fragman described Friday's event as a milestone for Westinghouse Electric Company and Kozloduy N-plant. "This is the end of a long process, but it is not the end of our interaction, it is a new beginning and we will continue to work towards developing our relationship and new projects," Fragman said.

Kozloduy N-plant's cooperation with Westinghouse started years ago first in the area of command and control systems, then moved on to fuel supply diversification processes, and is now entering a new phase related to the construction of new facilities. Fragman confirmed the company's readiness to connect the future seventh unit at Kozloduy NPP to the European energy grid in 2034.

In his remarks Malinov stressed the importance of the two-day visit of the top-tier management of Westinghouse in Bulgaria including Patrick Fragman, Senior Vice President Aziz Dagh, and other representatives of the company, who are to hold meetings with the President, at the Council of Ministers and the National Assembly, according to Minister Malinov.

"Bulgaria will steadfastly and unwaveringly continue on its path of diversifying its energy sector. Today's event shows our determination to follow this path, namely by starting the process of licensing a fuel that can be relied on in the long term for unit six of Kozloduy," Minister Malinov said.

He defined 2025 as a very important year regarding the plans for the construction of the new capacities at Kozloduy - the seventh and the eighth units. The plans of the Ministry include having a clear picture at the end of next year on the cost and timing of the project, on the structure of its financing and to propose to the National Assembly a final investment decision at the end of 2025.

Responding to a journalist's question about the connection between Friday's contract with Westinghouse and the planned partial replacement of fuel in unit six with fuel from France's Framatom, with which a 10-year contract has been signed, Malinov said that the term of the contract signed with Westinghouse is for 48 months.

"Within this time frame, the first test cassettes from Westinghouse are expected to be installed in Unit six in 2026. The contract only applies to the licencing process of the Westinghouse fuel and does not represent a commitment for Bulgaria to purchase from Westinghouse. The strategy in nuclear energy is to have alternatives, the Minister added.