Potential Testing of American Nuclear Fuel at Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant
It is likely that American nuclear fuel from Westinghouse will be tested for the 6th unit of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. This was revealed following a meeting between Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and David Wright, a commissioner at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
After the successful implementation and stable operation of the 5th unit using fuel from Westinghouse, discussions are currently underway regarding the possibility of utilizing several fuel assemblies of the same type for the 6th unit of the nuclear facility, according to Malinov.
Initially, there were expectations that the diversification of Russian nuclear fuel would involve French fuel from Framatome. However, given the successful launch of the 6th unit with 25% American fuel, plans may be shifting. “Our collaboration with the United States in the field of nuclear energy is a key factor in ensuring energy security not only in Bulgaria but also across the Southeast European region,” commented the Energy Minister.
New Nuclear Projects on the Horizon
Discussions between Bulgaria and the United States regarding the project for building new nuclear capacity at the Kozloduy site were also among the topics addressed by Malinov and Wright. The Energy Minister emphasized the urgent need to realize the construction of new nuclear facilities at Kozloduy as swiftly as possible.
According to him, choosing the Westinghouse AP1000 technology, along with the global leader in nuclear construction, Hyundai Engineering and Construction, guarantees the successful implementation of the project.
Small modular reactors were also a focal point in the discussions, as Malinov reiterated their importance to the American side. He explained to Wright that Bulgaria’s interest in developing small modular reactor technologies serves as a flexible option to complement the energy mix and ensure energy security and independence.
“We are actively exploring these technologies and believe they can provide an excellent opportunity for supplementary energy capacities that fully meet the decarbonization requirements of the sector, while requiring less time and financial resources compared to traditional nuclear reactors,” noted Malinov.
