site.btaPresident: Nuclear Energy in Bulgaria Must Be Developed with Active Participation of Experts, Clear Goals, Estimates, Safety Guarantees

"The development of nuclear energy in Bulgaria requires the setting of clear goals and estimates, safety guarantees, with the participation and assessments of experts leading the way," President Rumen Radev said during a meeting at the Presidential Administration with representatives of the Bulgarian Atomic Forum (BULATOM), as quoted in a press release from the President's press office on Tuesday.

The participants in the talks discussed the need to ensure conditions for sustainable development of nuclear energy in Bulgaria and the position of BULATOM on the issue. Participants agreed that a long-term state policy is needed to achieve energy autonomy and sustainability through the development of nuclear energy as a source of base energy with low environmental impact. The Head of State highlighted the efforts of the presidential institution and the caretaker governments appointed by him to ensure stability and predictability in the development of the Bulgarian energy sector, including through the strategy for the sector developed by former Prime Minister Galab Donev's Cabinet in early 2023. In 2022, during the caretaker government, an agreement was signed with Westinghouse for the diversification of nuclear fuel, and a decision was made for Framatome to also supply nuclear fuel to the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the press release reads.

In connection with the planned construction of Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy NPP the Head of State highlighted the need for timely training and preparation of a sufficient number of Bulgarian experts to participate in both the construction of the facilities and their safe operation and maintenance thereafter. It was pointed out at the meeting that in the absence of a clear financial framework and information on the final cost of constructing the new nuclear units, postponing the process would lead to higher costs due to possible inflation.

There was a common position that Bulgaria should have high ambitions for the development of its nuclear energy sector, given its more than 50 years of proven experience in the operation of nuclear facilities in compliance with the highest safety standards. The participants in the discussion agreed that setting specific priorities with clear prices, deadlines, and stages for the construction of nuclear power plants with a long-term perspective is key to ensuring the country's energy security.

The growing consumption and demand for energy, both nationally and globally, was noted during the meeting. This trend, as well as the ambitions to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, require planning investments in reliable and efficient base capacity, such as nuclear power plants, the statement said.