Nuclear power in Bulgaria explained

Nuclear power generates about a third of electricity in Bulgaria. Bulgaria's first commercial nuclear reactor began operation in 1974.[1] The Kozloduy NPP operates two pressurized water reactors with a total output of 1906 MW. This makes Bulgaria the 21st-largest user of nuclear power in the world. Construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant was officially terminated in March 2012, and a thermal powerplant was supposed to be built on the site.[2] Efforts in May 2018 to restart the Belene project were unsuccessful., Bulgaria plans to construct new reactors at the existing Kozloduy site,[3] and at Belene.[4]

Bulgaria has the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant with two pressurized water reactors (together 2000 MW net). Four old and unsafe VVER-440/230 reactors (4 x 408 MW net) were taken off-line in 2004 and 2007). The two active reactors cover almost half of Bulgaria's electricity demand.[5]

Radioactive waste

Bulgaria has a state agency in charge of radioactive waste disposal. Under a 2002 agreement, Bulgaria pays Russia $620 thousand/ton to reprocess spent fuel. The country also spent to construct a new storage facility and had plans to build another facility by 2015[6] but it didn't happen as predicted.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World Nuclear Organization . Nuclear Power in Bulgaria . August 2010 . 2010-10-06 . 2009-01-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090121015155/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf87.html . dead .
  2. http://novinite.com/view_news.php?id=137961 Bulgaria quits Belene Nuclear Power Plant project
  3. Web site: Bulgaria abandons Belene, announces new reactors at Kozloduy . 2022-02-16 .
  4. Web site: Bulgaria energy strategy includes four new nuclear reactors . 2024-03-01 . www.world-nuclear-news.org.
  5. https://www.capital.bg/biznes/energetika/2023/07/04/4503320_sriv_pri_toka_ot_vuglishta_i_rekord_za_vei_prez_juni_v/
  6. “Nuclear Power in Bulgaria.” World Nuclear Association February 2008. < http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf87.html >