Minister Malinov: Our cooperation with the USA in the field of nuclear energy is a leading factor in guaranteeing energy security
"Our cooperation with the USA in the field of nuclear energy is a leading factor in guaranteeing energy security not only in Bulgaria, but also in the entire region of Southeast Europe." This was said by Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov, who spoke with David Wright, a commissioner at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Minister Malinov singled out the active efforts of the two countries to diversify the energy sector in Bulgaria as a leading priority of this cooperation. This was announced today by the Ministry of Energy.
"For the first time in its fifty-year history, the fifth unit of the Kozloduy NPP has been loaded with an alternative fuel - that of Westinghouse," the energy minister emphasized and highlighted the multifaceted benefits of these efforts for the security of the energy industry. "After the successful implementation and sustainable operation of the 5th unit with fuel from the American company Westinghouse, the possibility of using several cartridges with the same fuel for the 6th unit of the nuclear power plant is currently being considered," said Minister Malinov. During the conversation, the two agreed to actively continue the exchange of experience and know-how between experts from both countries in the field of nuclear energy.
Minister Malinov also introduced Mr. Wright to the Bulgarian side's interest in the development of technologies for small modular reactors as a flexible option for supplementing the energy mix and guaranteeing energy security and independence. "We are actively studying these technologies and we believe that they can be an excellent opportunity for complementary energy capacities that fully meet the decarbonization requirements of the industry and whose construction takes less time and financial resources compared to classic nuclear reactors," Malinov pointed out.
Contacts between Bulgaria and the USA regarding the project to build a new nuclear power plant at the Kozloduy NPP site were also among the topics of conversation between Minister Malinov and David Wright. The Minister of Energy emphasized the need for the construction of new nuclear facilities at the Kozloduy NPP site to be implemented as soon as possible. According to him, the choice of the AR 1000 technology of the American company Westinghouse and the world leader in the construction of nuclear units, Hyundai Engineering and Construction, is a guarantee for the successful implementation of the project.