Bulgaria and Canada will share experiences in nuclear energy
Bulgaria and Canada will exchange experience and expertise in the field of nuclear energy. This was agreed by Bulgarian Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Canada, based in Bucharest, H.E. Gavin Buchan. “The development of nuclear energy in Bulgaria through the construction of Unit 7 and Unit 8 at Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant is an irreversible process with political support in our country. The project is essential to guarantee energy security and the production of affordable clean electricity for the region,” Minister Malinov noted. Representatives of the Canadian State Trade Agency, the leading Canadian electricity generation company in Ontario, “Ontario Power Generation”, as well as their subsidiary engineering company “Laurentis” participated in the meeting. The Energy Minister presented the timetable for the implementation of the new nuclear capacity project, recalling that a final investment decision would be taken in the last quarter of next year.
H.E. Gavin Buchan expressed interest in deepening Bulgarian-Canadian cooperation in the field of energy, in particular with regard to the nuclear sector. More than two hundred companies are working in this area in Canada and they are active in European countries as well. Minister Malinov expressed confidence that exchange of experience between experts from both countries would be of mutual interest.
During the talk, the future role of small modular reactors as complementary power plants was also discussed. “Bulgaria is very interested in Canada’s experience in the construction of small modular reactors. Our use of this technology would contribute to the decarbonization goals,”Minister Malinov said. He recalled that a joint study with the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) on the various technologies for the construction of small modular reactors would soon be carried out.
