Bulgarian companies are showing interest in maneuverable small modular reactors

It is an honor for the Ministry of Energy to participate in the work of this high-tech seminar, gathering leading scientists and experts from the field of nuclear energy. The development and integration of small modular reactors is key to making the green transition, ensuring the physical and financial security of the power system. With these words, the Deputy Minister of Energy, Georgi Samandov, welcomed the participants in the American-Bulgarian workshop "Basic infrastructure for the responsible use of technology for small modular reactors" (FIRST program), which is being held in Sofia.

At the opening of the forum, Deputy Minister Samandov presented the importance and leading directions in the development of Bulgarian nuclear energy. It is an essential factor in the formation of the national energy mix and has an important role in the decarbonisation of the sector in the context of the EU Green Deal, the REPowerEU plan and the policy of producing reliable energy at affordable and predictable prices for consumers. Nuclear energy provides about 40% of gross electricity production in the country, pointed out Georgi Samandov.

Among the main priorities of the Bulgarian nuclear program, he outlined the upcoming construction of the 7th and 8th units of the Kozloduy NPP using the AR 1000 technology, the maximum extension of the service life of its 5th and 6th units, the construction of a national repository for radioactive waste, which is about to be finalized, etc.

Samandov recalled that a 10-year contract was concluded with "Westinghouse" for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel for the 5th unit of the NPP in December 2022, and the first one already became a fact in April of this year. Kozloduy NPP also concluded a contract with Framatom for the supply of fresh nuclear fuel for Unit 6 in March last year.

During the forum, various technological options for the future development of nuclear energy were discussed. The place of small modular reactors emerges among them as a complementary technology to the existing large ones. The possibilities for applying these capacities in our country are being analyzed in order to ensure higher flexibility and security of the energy system. Bulgarian companies are already showing interest in such facilities and in partnership with reputable foreign manufacturers, it became clear at the seminar.