site.btaEnergy Minister Stankov, Education Minister Valchev Visit Kozloduy NPP

Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov and Education and Science Minister Krasimir Valchev Tuesday visited the Kozloduy NPP and held a meeting with the management of the plant and of Kozloduy NPP-New Builds Plc.

Stankov said a working group had been set up from various ministries to prioritize the construction of new nuclear facilities in Bulgaria. He said he had tasked the N-plant's CEO Ivan Andreev, Kozloduy NPP-New Builds Plc Executive Director Petyo Ivanov, State Enterprise for Radioactive Waste Executive Director Dilyan Petrov, and the Nuclear Regulatory Agency to prepare a work programme for the next ten years, which is to ensure staffing for the construction of new nuclear capacities. The Energy Minister recalled that Unit 7 is planned to be commissioned in 2033-2034.

In November 2024, NPP Kozloduy New Builds Plc, Westinghouse and Hyundai Engineering & Construction signed an engineering contract for new nuclear capacities at the plant.

Petyo Ivanov said the project company's team has been negotiating with Bulgarian expats who have experience working in nuclear plants and would be ready to join Kozloduy NPP-New Builds.

Possible US tariffs not expected to push up the project's cost

Stankov told journalists he does not expect the possible introduction of US tariffs to push up the cost of a project for the construction of Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy NPP: "I do not expect the reactors to be subject to tariffs or duties, either from Europe or from the United States. The project will have a solid financial backing from the US export banks and South Korea."

He added that by selecting the AP1000 technology for the new capacities at the Kozloduy NPP, the state has transferred the risk to the companies responsible for delivering the equipment.

More grants for students

The state is 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 that specific education more attractive to young people," said Education Minister Krasimir Valchev.

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

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. Valchev said the Ministry could shortly 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.

Energy Minister Stankov added that the N-plant had paid BGN 600,000 in grants to school and university students in the last five years.

Europe is currently seeing a nuclear renaissance, Stankov said. "Right now, young people can feel assured that if they graduate in fields related to nuclear energy, they will have job security and career development," he said.

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. 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.

The school was also visited by Stankov together with representatives of Hyundai Engineering &Construction and Westinghouse. They got acquainted with the project for the construction of a Centre of Excellence at the school.