site.btaGovernment Approves Derogation for Purchase of Materials, Spare Parts for Kozloduy N-Plant

Bulgaria's Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved a derogation from the EU sanctions against Russia enabling the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant to purchase the materials, spare parts and services it needs for the normal carrying out of the facility's planned annual maintenance and operation, Energy Minister Rossen Hristov told a news briefing at the Council of Ministers.

The derogation is from a EU regulation prohibiting the import of particular parts, materials and services from Russia in connection with the war in Ukraine, Hristov specified.

He described the decision as being of "critical significance for the security of the N-plant."

"The materials, services and parts in question are those for which we have not yet found alternative suppliers. We carry on the process of selecting new counterparties, so as to be absolutely secure in the long term," he added.

"We are also overstocking on these materials and parts for which we are unable to find alternative supplies, so as to ensure the seamless operation of the power plant in the coming years," the Energy Minister pointed out.