site.btaRegular Monitoring Mission Evaluates Kozloduy NPP Units Decommissioning

Representatives of the European Commission, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Energy Ministry conducted a regular Monitoring Mission at facilities of the State Enterprise Radioactive Waste (SERAW) at the Kozloduy site. The Monitoring Mission tracks the progress of activities under the Kozloduy NPP Units 1-4 Decommissioning Programme, SERAW said.

The goal was to assess the progress of the programme, which is carried out by the State Enterprise.

The mission was led by Jan Panek, Director of DG Energy with the European Commission responsible for nuclear energy, safety and ITER, and Deputy Energy Minister Georgi Samandov in his capacity as the Decommissioning Programme coordinator for Bulgaria.

During the three-day monitoring of the implementation of the programme, the participants reviewed a report on activities for the second half of 2024 and discussed opportunities and responsibilities regarding a schedule update, organizational improvements, knowledge exchange and dissemination in 2025, new project proposals for future activities and other business matters, according to SERAW. The mission included a tour of the enterprise's facilities at the Kozloduy site.

SERAW quoted Samandov as saying that progress is visible: work is ongoing at all sites and people are motivated. At the same time, communication between the European Bank, the European Commission, the consultant and the Bulgarian participants - SERAW and the Energy Ministry - is very effective. "I have absolutely no concerns regarding the progress and completion of the activities planned under the programme," said Deputy Minister Samandov.

In line with the EU Council Regulation on the provision of grant funds to Bulgaria for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities and the applicable procedures, the implementation of activities financed by the Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund is subject to regular monitoring. Under the applicable rules, the progress of the Decommissioning Programme is monitored every six months in several successive steps, SERAW said.