Tsvetelina Penkova: I hope that Hyundai will handle the implementation of the project for the Seventh Unit at the Kozloduy NPP

MEP Tsvetelina Penkova, in complete opposition to the Bulgarian struggles, organized a large international nuclear forum in Brussels. One of the guests at this meeting will be the American director Oliver Stone. There we aim to present the Bulgarian industry and energy and its possibilities. This was stated by MEP Tsvetelina Penkova in the program "EvroDikov" on Eurocom Television. A large part of Bulgarian industry and energy will be on site. We often think that we are an insignificant part of the industry, but this is not the case", explained Penkova to Sasho Dikov.

At the event, Oliver Stone will present his documentary about nuclear energy, that it is safe and not an old technology," Penkova specified.

Regarding the domestic nuclear energy, the MEP explained that it is becoming more and more difficult for people to navigate what is happening during the construction of units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy NPP, where things are happening very quickly. The big question mark was who will be the contractor of the project, subsequently the company Hyundai (Hyundai Engineering and Construction, note ed.) was chosen, but the procedure was a short application period. This creates a note of opacity, of frivolity to the process. Because if you give such a deadline, it is either clear who will win the contract, or the complexity of the project that is on the table is not understood.

"I hope that Hyundai will handle what they submitted as a task, but they have not carried out a project of a similar scale, nor with AP 1000 technology," explained Penkova. These are new generation reactors and should be taken seriously. Quality is important, said the MEP.

The cost of the investment and compliance with the deadlines are always the biggest problem of nuclear projects, Penkova was categorical.

What is clear is because a technology and project was chosen that will be more expensive than the available technology and equipment at the Belene site. This will be paid for by the Bulgarian citizens, recalled Penkova.

It's always about prices, and now we're making a decision, a political decision, about how to choose a technology and a site. "You yourself asked the question and answered 'why Westinghouse' without a contest." No other country has allowed itself to do this. Even Poland, which does not yet have nuclear power," said Penkova. Public deliberations were held there for 5-6 months to choose who would ultimately provide the technology.

At the forum in Brussels, we will talk about RES, about energy auditors, what is their role, and not only about nuclear energy. The role of Bulgaria is important, we are famous in Europe for our high safety standards regarding nuclear energy. The third part of the forum will be about the critical raw materials we have in Bulgaria and the connectivity of the electricity transmission network in the region.