Bulgaria offers Slovenia to become part of project to install new nuclear reactors at Kozloduy

Bulgaria is offering to Slovenia to become part of the project for expanding the Kozloduy nuclear power plant, the Bulgarian government said.

During a bilateral meeting, Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov invited Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob to establish cooperation. They spoke on the sidelines of the 18th Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, which this year is held under the slogan Solidarity for Global Security.

Slovenia is preparing to increase its nuclear power capacity, the government in Sofia noted, adding it is ready to learn from Bulgaria. Bulgaria is ahead of Slovenia with plans for the expansion of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant, the statement reads.

Slovenia also plans to install another nuclear power unit

Of note, Slovenia has one nuclear plant – Krško (731 MW) and is preparing to install a second unit. Bulgaria has also one nuclear power plant – Kozloduy, consisting of two reactors of 1,088 MW each, and it plans to build new ones. Two months ago the government signed a contract for a 1,110 MW unit.

Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov told his counterpart Robert Golob that Slovenia should be involved in the project in Kozloduy either as a buyer of electricity or as an investor.

Bulgaria’s plan is to secure baseload energy from nuclear power plants

Denkov said the decision to build new reactors is based on the long-term energy demand forecast until 2050.

Two new units, combined with extending the operation of the existing ones, will be enough to provide baseload power until the country decides how to develop its energy mix after 2050, Denkov explained.

Bulgaria is also ready to help Slovenia prepare experts for the construction and operation of new nuclear reactors.

NPP Kozloduy is located 200 kilometers north of the Bulgarian capital Sofia and five kilometers east of the town of Kozloduy, on the Danube river.