site.btaBulgarian Government Allows Kozloduy Nuclear Plant Derogation from Russia Sanctions to Import Russian Steel Products

At its meeting on Tuesday, the Bulgarian Council of Ministers approved a derogation from several provisions of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 concerning restrictive measures in response to Russia’s destabilizing actions in Ukraine. The exemption allows the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant to sign a public procurement contract with a selected contractor and purchase specific iron and steel products from Russia necessary for fulfilling contracts, said the government press office.

Ensuring the highest level of technical and nuclear safety, radiation protection, safe working conditions, and environmental preservation remains the top priority for the operation of the Kozloduy plant. Regular deliveries of components and parts from the original designers, engineers, and manufacturers of the installed equipment are critical to maintaining nuclear safety and uninterrupted electricity generation. Since much of the plant’s systems and equipment originate from Russia, certain supply contracts related to the reliable and safe operation of Units 5 and 6 have either been signed with or require signing with Russian contractors, the government press office said.

Kozloduy is Bulgaria’s only nuclear facility and the country’s largest producer of electricity, contributing over one-third of the national annual electricity output.