Minister Malinov: Our cooperation with the U.S.A in the field of nuclear energy is a key factor in ensuring energy security
“Our cooperation with the U.S.A in the field of nuclear energy is a key factor in ensuring energy security not only in Bulgaria, but also in the whole region of South-East Europe.” That is what Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov said, who spoke with David Wright, Commissioner at U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Minister Malinov highlighted the active efforts of both sides to diversify Bulgaria's energy sector as a top priority of the bilateral cooperation. “For the first time in its 50-year history, Unit 5 of Kozloduy NPP is operating with alternative fuel – that of Westinghouse,” the Energy Minister stressed and underlined the multilateral benefits of these efforts for the security of the energy sector. “After the successful deployment and sustainable operation of Unit 5 with the fuel of the U.S. company “Westinghouse”, the possibility of using several cartridges with the same fuel for Unit 6 of the nuclear power plant is under consideration,” Minister Malinov said. During the conversation, the two agreed that exchange of experience and know-how between experts from both sides in the field of nuclear energy should actively continue.
Minister Malinov informed Mr. Wright about the Bulgarian interest in developing small modular reactor technologies as a flexible option to complement the energy mix and ensure energy security and independence. “We are actively exploring these technologies and believe that they can be an excellent opportunity for complementary energy capacities that fully meet the decarbonisation requirements of the industry and the construction of which takes less time and financial resources than conventional nuclear reactors,” Minister Manlinov pointed out.
Communication between Bulgaria and the United States on the project to build a new nuclear capacity at the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant site was among the topics discussed between Minister Malinov and David Wright. The Energy Minister stressed the need to build new nuclear capacities at the Kozloduy NPP site as soon as possible. In his words, the selection of AP-1000 technology of the U.S. company “Westinghouse” and the world leader in building nuclear units “Hyundai Engineering & Construction” is a guarantee of the success of the project.