Bulgaria will license Westinghouse fuel for its nuclear power plant
Westinghouse and Bulgaria’s Kozloduy NPP have signed a contract to license US nuclear fuel for the VVER-1000 reactor. This was reported by the press service of the Westinghouse. “We are pleased that Kozloduy has demonstrated its confidence in the operation of Westinghouse nuclear fuel,” said Tariq Choho, Westinghouse Regional Reactor Service President.
According to him, Westinghouse will offer innovative technologies and the highest level of service throughout the life cycle of Kozloduy NPP as part of the strategy of energy security and diversification of fuel supply in Bulgaria.
The licensing process will be carried out with the participation of the Bulgarian nuclear regulator and is a key prerequisite for the security of nuclear fuel supply. Kozloduy NPP is the only operating nuclear power plant in Bulgaria and the largest in the Balkan region. After 2011, only the newest 5th and 6th VVER-1000 power units, built in 1987 and 1991, respectively, are operating at the station.
It should be recalled that in Ukraine Westinghouse nuclear fuel is used at four power units of Zaporizhzhia NPP, two power units of the South Ukrainian NPP and from 2021 will be supplied for one of the power units of Rivne NPP. At the same time, three power units of Ukrainian NPPs (No. 2 and No. 3 SUNPP, №5 ZNPP) operate exclusively on Westinghouse fuel. The Westinghouse fuel licensing process in the Czech Republic is also underway.
