site.btaJuly 15, 1966: Bulgaria and Soviet Union Sign Nuclear Power Agreement

On July 15, 1966, during the height of the Cold War and amid growing efforts to modernize its energy sector, Bulgaria signed a pivotal intergovernmental agreement with the Soviet Union to build its first nuclear power plant at Kozloduy, along the Danube River in northwestern Bulgaria. This cooperation was part of the broader Soviet strategy to expand nuclear technology among its Eastern Bloc allies, while Bulgaria sought to diversify its energy sources and meet the rising demands of industrialization.

The 1966 agreement provided for Soviet assistance in the design, construction, and operation of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, including the supply of VVER-type pressurized water reactors, Soviet equipment, and specialist training for Bulgarian engineers.

Following the deal, construction officially began with a ground-breaking ceremony on October 14, 1969. The plant’s first two reactors became operational in 1974 and 1975, marking a major milestone in Bulgaria’s energy development. Kozloduy quickly became a central element of the country’s power generation capacity, supplying electricity not only domestically but also to neighboring countries in the region.