A Bulgarian delegation in the USA is preparing the signing of the intergovernmental agreement on the construction of the Seventh Block of the Kozloduy NPP

Energy Minister Rumen Radev, Finance Asen Vasilev and Economics Bogdan Bogdanov are leaving for an official working visit to the USA. All of them will have different visits, but one is expected to be key for Bulgarian energy: the signing of an intergovernmental agreement on the construction of a new nuclear unit in our country is being prepared. It is about the construction of the Seventh Unit of the Kozloduy NPP, which is expected to be built using Westinghouse's AP 1000 technology.

The Energy Ministry confirmed to 3eNews that an agreement is being prepared, but could not specify when or how it would be signed. "Meetings are planned with the US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm, Jeffrey Pyatt, Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources at the State Department, and other key representatives of the US government," the department explained.

The focus of the meetings will be the energy cooperation between Bulgaria and the USA, priorities for energy security and diversification of energy sources and routes will be discussed. Among the main topics will be cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, including approved by the Council of Ministers on January 25, 2024, the draft Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria on cooperation on the project for the construction of nuclear power at the Kozloduy NPP site and the nuclear program for civil purposes of the Republic of Bulgaria, it became clear more from the answer of the Ministry of Energy. Work on the preparation of an agreement continues from there. The document itself is key to the development of the project. The agreement itself must then be approved by the Bulgarian Parliament and the US Senate.

We remind you that a week ago Energy Minister Rumen Radev explained at a forum to the media that the intergovernmental agreement is expected to be signed "parallel" in Bulgaria and the USA. This is expected to happen this month. The minister then added that a decision was made to start an environmental impact assessment of the project for the eighth unit, as currently only the future seventh unit of the Kozloduy NPP has one.

How much the new nuclear power at the Kozloduy NPP site will cost will become clear, most likely after March, when the American company Westinghouse will be ready with its preliminary estimate.

However, the final price will become clear after a contract is signed with the project contractor. This was also explained by the executive director of Kozloduy NPP, Valentin Nikolov, during a conference of the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum, where 3eNews was a media partner. Nikolov added that there is interest, although still unofficial, in the announced procedure for selecting the main contractor for the new units of the Kozloduy NPP.

We remind you that on February 2 it became clear that 5 companies have expressed interest in the announcement of Kozloduy NPP New Powers EAD to undertake construction of the 7th and 8th units at site No. 2 of our nuclear power plant with technology AR-1000.

A committee will consider the attached documentation this week. Applicants are required to demonstrate experience in the construction and commissioning of a minimum of two nuclear units, to have worked within a nuclear or turbine island of at least two units, or to have supplied and installed equipment for two units within the last 15 years.

Applicants interested in the project should be able to demonstrate at least $6 billion in turnover and profit over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022.

Finance Minister Asen Vasilev will also have a number of meetings in the USA. Within the framework of the visit, Minister Vassilev will have meetings at the Department of Energy, the World Bank, the White House, the Congress and the US Senate. Minister Vasilev is expected to participate in a round table with American business, to have a meeting with the "Heritage" Foundation, as well as in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the American Chamber of Commerce. He will hold meetings with American Jewish organizations as well as executives from leading American companies, including Tesla, Meta-Facebook, SpiceEx, FedEx, Honeywell, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin ", Exxon Mobil and General Dynamics," the finance ministry said.

Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov and Deputy Minister of Economy and Industry Nikolay Pavlov are leaving to hold another series of meetings, the Ministry of Economy and Industry announced.

In the capital Washington, Minister Bogdanov will have meetings with representatives of the World Bank Group, the US Chamber of Commerce, as well as with representatives of international corporations in the field of the automotive industry, logistics, high technologies and the production of energy storage systems. Issues of general interest in the field of economy and investments are expected to be discussed.