Investigating ways to fully utilise the potential of the licensed site at Kozloduy NPP
At its meeting on October 14, 2020, the Council of Ministers /CoM/ decided to undertake preparatory actions and study the possibilities for building a new nuclear power plant at the site at Kozloduy NPP approved by Order No. AA-04-30/21.02.2020 of the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency, in the context of achieving the European Union's goals for climate neutrality by 2050 and diversification of energy resources.
According to point 2 of the said Decision, the Minister of Energy is assigned to take the necessary actions and authorize Bulgarian Energy Holding EAD to enter into negotiations with companies from the United States of America developing new nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes, including small modular reactors, in order to explore the possibilities for building a new nuclear capacity at Site No. 2 at Kozloduy NPP.
We draw attention to the fact that the cited decision of the Council of Ministers does not determine a single and total installed capacity of nuclear facilities, nor does it limit the technological alternatives to be considered. Moreover, it gives a mandate to expand the scope of the already completed activities under the project for a new nuclear capacity by Kozloduy NPP - Novi Moshnosti EAD. Far-sightedly and in line with global trends, it instructs to study the possibilities for using small modular reactors as a future alternative to the current "large" generation 3+ reactors.
The small modular reactors (SMRs) in question would have advantages in liberalized markets like the European one, due to their ability to follow the load of the grid and support its sustainability, especially after the widespread penetration of unpredictable alternative energy sources.
The decision taken by the Council of Ministers requires that actions be taken regarding the analysis of the possibility of using the full capacity and maximum potential of the studied and approved site for the deployment of nuclear facilities, taking into account the cumulative effect of the construction of a standard unit of the latest generation, as envisaged in the Council of Ministers' Decision of 2012 for a new unit at Kozloduy NPP.
