Kozloduy nuclear power plant will use fuel from Westinghouse for the next 10 years

Kozloduy nuclear power plant (NPP) and Westinghouse Electric Sweden on December 22 signed a 10-year contract for the supply of nuclear fuel. The fuel will be used for Unit 5 of the plant.

Caretaker Energy Minister, Rossen Hristov, described the signing as a significant step forward in the diversification of nuclear fuel supply, both in line with the European strategy and the decision of the National Assembly in November this year.

"At the moment we have a partnership, a deal that is extremely good and advantageous for our country, the conditions that we have achieved for these months that we have been in power are a security of supply. With Westinghouse, we now have a supply arrangement for nuclear fuel, we are fully meeting the commitment to EDA," he said.

The Energy Minister assured that the use of Westinghouse's nuclear fuel is safe. Extensive research had been done in countries where it was already in use before the contract was signed.

"This has largely helped us to identify the technical problems, we have found all the solutions so that the risks can be avoided, we have exchanged experiences with the Czech side, the nuclear control system works there, they have shared their experience with us and thanks to them we have solved the problems. We are also familiar with the tests that are being conducted in Ukraine. As far as security is concerned, there are no risks of the fuel not working. International experts have been involved at the highest level to ensure safe operation. Everything that can be done has been done so that we have no new risks," he said.

Minister Hristov stressed that the contract guarantees the security of supply, because currently any supplies from Russia are impossible, including those of nuclear fuel.

"This contract guarantees the security of the Bulgarian nuclear power plant," added Georgi Kirkov, Executive Director of Kozloduy NPP.

Managing Director of Westinghouse Electric Sweden described the signing of the contract as a historic moment and the beginning of a long-standing partnership.

"This is the end of a very long process and the signing of this contract marks the start of a long-lasting partnership that will continue in the future. We aim to protect and secure your nuclear power plant and to this end we can boast over 40 years of experience in our field of work and competence. We at Westinghouse are extremely committed to developing a successful partnership. I sincerely hope that the beginning of this partnership will bring every success for Bulgaria," he said.

Bulgaria is expected to receive the full licence as well as the fuel supply in mid-2024.

"Regarding the speculation about the financial conditions, I would like to say that thanks to the negotiations the economic conditions have been improved, the price has been reduced since July - we are talking about double-digit percentages of price reduction," he clarified.

The contract does not include the removal of the nuclear fuel.

"It is already being carried out by a third party - a Russian company. Unfortunately, the company Mayak is no longer able to fulfill its contract, as their license was revoked by a decision of the Russian administration. For the time being, this fuel is stored at the Kozloduy NPP site. There is only one company in Europe that provides such services, and we are currently in talks. For the moment we have no critical points, we have the necessary infrastructure," he said.

The energy minister explained that Bulgaria will sign a similar commitment with the company Framatom for the sixth unit, which completely completes the procedure for diversification of fresh nuclear fuel supply, so the country will have nuclear fuel from two independent non-Russian sources.

Source: BGNES