Minister Malinov discussed progress on joint nuclear projects with Jennifer Granholm and Andrew Light
“The implementation of joint Bulgarian and U.S. projects in the field of nuclear energy is key to ensuring energy security in the region.” That is what Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov said during bilateral meetings with the U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm and the U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs Andrew Light. The talks took place in Romania's capital, Bucharest, as part of the Fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Transatlantic Energy and Climate Cooperation Partnership (P-TECC).
Minister Malinov informed the U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm on the progress made in diversifying the energy sector in Bulgaria. He focused on the benefits from the cooperation between the two sides in the deployment of alternative nuclear fuel produced by the U.S. company Westinghouse in Unit 5 of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant. “For the first time in its 50-year history, Bulgaria's nuclear power plant is running on an alternative fuel that contributes to our energy security,” the Energy Minister underlined. The strategic importance of the Vertical Gas Corridor initiative, supported by the U.S.A., which will provide access to alternative LNG supplies for the South-East European region, was also highlighted.
Fruitful meetings between U.S. and Bulgarian experts continue in the framework of the Steering Committee under the Intergovernmental Agreement between Bulgaria and the U.S.A. on cooperation on the project to build new nuclear power capacity at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant site and the civil nuclear programme of Bulgaria. “We count on the talks regarding the financing of the new nuclear capacity project by EXIM Bank as soon as possible, as well as on the establishment of a consortium between the U.S. company Westinghouse and South Korean Hundai Engineering and Construction,” Malinov stressed. “The Bulgarian side is actively exploring the development of small modular reactors as an opportunity for complementary energy capacity to contribute to ensuring the flexibility of the energy system. It is important for us to become familiar with all potential technologies in this area in order to choose the one that meets our needs," he also told Assistant Secretary Light. “We are holding talks on cooperation on small modular reactors with the U.S. Trade and Development Agency as well,” the Energy Minister added.
Later, Minister Vladimir Malinov spoke with the European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson. They discussed the functioning of the single European market as a guarantor and a necessary condition for the security of supply and the predictability of prices for end users.