site.btaEnergy Minister: Contract for Construction of Kozloduy NPP Units 7 and 8 to Be Signed by End-2026

А contract for the construction of Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) is expected to be signed by the end of 2026, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said on Tuesday. He was speaking at the opening of the international nuclear conference titled “Bulgarian Nuclear Energy – National, Regional and World Energy Security”, held at the Riviera Holiday Club near Varna. The event is organized by the Bulgarian Atomic Forum (BulAtom).

Stankov expressed confidence that Bulgaria will be the first EU country to have an operational AP1000 reactor by Westinghouse. If project deadlines are strictly followed, the construction contract should be signed next year, with the first reactor scheduled to be operational in 2033 or 2034, and the second unit expected to follow within two years.

By the end of this month, the final cost of the project for Units 7 and 8 will be announced and presented to the public, the Minister added.

Stankov gave a political commitment that the project will be completed. He noted that the government will provide between 20% and 30% of the total investment, while discussions are underway with international financial institutions to secure funding for the remainder.

The Minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to ensure a qualified workforce for the energy sector. During peak construction phases, as many as 10,000 workers will be needed on site. Jointly with the Ministry of Education, the Energy Ministry has developed programmes to encourage young people to pursue energy-related studies. 

Regarding the Belene NPP project, Stankov said several options for the future of the existing reactors are under discussion. While the simplest option would be to sell them, the current nuclear energy renaissance in Europe warrants broader consideration of alternatives, he noted.

On the retail energy market, Stankov recalled that the liberalization process has been postponed indefinitely by parliamentary decision. He emphasized that the state will continue to ensure that households have access to the lowest electricity prices in Europe. Liberalization may be reconsidered only after the completion of long-term residential energy efficiency projects.

Speaking about the Maritsa-East [coal-fired plant] complex , the Minister said it remains strategically important, having provided around 35% of Bulgaria’s electricity in the past year. He stressed that there is no European document requiring a fixed date for closure of the power plants, and that Bulgaria must define its own energy mix.