Bulgaria diversifies nuclear fuel supplies with Westinghouse contract

Westinghouse has signed a contract with the Bulgarian Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant to conduct a safety analysis required to license a new type of fuel assembly for Unit 6. The move continues efforts to diversify fuel supplies for Bulgaria’s nuclear power plants.

The agreement was signed in the presence of Bulgarian Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov and follows the delivery of the first VVER-1000 fuel assemblies from Westinghouse for Kozloduy Unit 5, which took place at the beginning of last year.

“Signing the contract with Westinghouse represents another key step in our ongoing efforts to diversify nuclear fuel supplies for the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant,” Minister Malinov said.

He described the partnership between the Kozloduy plant and Westinghouse as a guarantee of Bulgaria’s energy security. “Thanks to fruitful cooperation with our American partners, we have made enormous progress in our joint efforts to ensure the independence of Bulgaria’s energy sector,” he added.

In November 2022, Bulgaria’s National Assembly voted to accelerate the search for alternative suppliers of nuclear fuel for VVER-1000 reactors to replace the existing Russian suppliers. In December 2022, the Kozloduy plant signed a ten-year contract with Westinghouse to manufacture and deliver fuel for Kozloduy 5. Westinghouse will manufacture the fuel assemblies at its facility in Västerås, Sweden. The first fuel under the contract was loaded into the reactor core at the beginning of last year.

Further steps towards licensing and strengthening independence

Westinghouse said that licensing the new fuel for Unit 6 would meet the stringent requirements of Bulgaria’s nuclear regulator. A Lead Test Assemblies Licensing Programme is being prepared for the unit.

“ We look forward to further contributing to Bulgaria’s energy independence and fuel supply diversification, which are absolutely crucial for the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant,” said Westinghouse President and CEO Patrick Fragman. “We are also pleased with the progress of the project to build two AP1000 units at the site,” he added, thanking Minister Malinov for his “continued and unwavering support in achieving this important milestone.”

History and future development of the Kozloduy NPP

The Kozloduy 5 and 6 pressurised-water reactors (VVER-1000) were connected to the grid in 1987 and 1991. Both units have undergone upgrades and lifetime extensions, and together they account for approximately one-third of Bulgaria’s electricity generation. In addition, two new AP1000 reactors from Westinghouse are planned for the site, and could begin operating in the second half of the 2030s.