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Bulgaria
As of 31 December 2022
Bulgaria has one nuclear power plant, Kozloduy, located on the Danube River about 110 km north of Sofia. It has two operating VVER-1000 reactors, with a combined capacity of 2006 MWe. Four VVER-440 units were shut down in the 2000s as a condition of the country joining the European Union.
Events in Ukraine in early 2022 resulted in Bulgaria looking to secure an alternative to Russian-supplied nuclear fuel. Following a vote, in December 2022 the government signed a 10-year deal with Westinghouse to supply fuel for Kozloduy 5 and an agreement with Framatome to supply fuel for Kozloduy 6 between 2025-2034.
In January 2023 the energy minister set out an energy strategy that includes plans for two new reactors at Kozloduy and two at Belene. The strategy outlines the continued use of coal until 2030 before reducing its use to zero by 2038.
The same month, the National Assembly voted by 112 to 45, with 39 abstentions, in favour of a draft decision asking ministers to negotiate with the US government for a new AP1000 unit at Kozloduy.
Figure Bu1. Annual electricity output (TWh) and age of reactors (years) at time of generation
Figure Bu2. Average capacity factor of reactors in Bulgaria
Figure Bu3. Emissions avoidance through use of nuclear generation in Bulgaria
WNN Links
Bulgarian parliament backs new AP1000 reactor at Kozloduy: World Nuclear News - 16 January 2023
Bulgaria energy strategy include four new nuclear reactors : World Nuclear News - 19 January 2023
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