Nuclear power generates about a third of electricity in Bulgaria. Bulgaria's first commercial nuclear reactor began operation in 1974. [1] The Kozloduy NPP operates two pressurized water reactors with a total output of 1906 MW. This makes Bulgaria the 21st-largest user of nuclear power in the world. Construction of the Belene Nuclear Power Plant was officially terminated in March 2012, and a thermal powerplant was supposed to be built on the site. [2] Efforts in May 2018 to restart the Belene project were unsuccessful. As of 2022 [update], Bulgaria plans to construct new reactors at the existing Kozloduy site, [3] and at Belene. [4]
Bulgaria has the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant with two pressurized water reactors (together 2000 MW net). Four old and unsafe VVER-440/230 reactors (4 x 408 MW net) were taken off-line in 2004 and 2007). The two active reactors cover almost half of Bulgaria's electricity demand. [5]
Radioactive waste
Bulgaria has a state agency in charge of radioactive waste disposal. Under a 2002 agreement, Bulgaria pays Russia $620 thousand/ton to reprocess spent fuel. The country also spent €49 million to construct a new storage facility and had plans to build another facility by 2015 [6] but it didn't happen as predicted.
Reactors
| Plant name |
Unit No. |
Type | Model | Status | Capacity (MW) |
Begin building |
Commercial operation |
Closed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kozloduy | 1 | PWR | VVER-440/V-230 | Shut down | 408 | 1 Apr 1970 | 28 Oct 1974 | 31 Dec 2002 |
| 2 | PWR | VVER-440/V-230 | Shut down | 408 | 1 Apr 1970 | 10 Nov 1975 | 31 Dec 2002 | |
| 3 | PWR | VVER-440/V-230 | Shut down | 408 | 1 Oct 1973 | 20 Jan 1981 | 31 Dec 2006 | |
| 4 | PWR | VVER-440/V-230 | Shut down | 408 | 1 Oct 1973 | 20 Jun 1982 | 31 Dec 2006 | |
| 5 | PWR | VVER-1000/V-320 | Operational | 1003 | 9 Jul 1980 | 23 Dec 1988 | ||
| 6 | PWR | VVER-1000/V-320 | Operational | 1003 | 1 Apr 1982 | 30 Dec 1993 | ||
| 7 | PWR | AP1000 | Planned [7] | 1150 | (2033) [7] | |||
| 8 | PWR | AP1000 | Planned [7] | 1150 | ||||
| Belene | 1 | PWR |
VVER-1000/V-320 VVER-1000/V-446B |
Unfinished | 953 1011 |
1987 2008 |
||
| 2 | PWR |
VVER-1000/V-320 VVER-1000/V-446B |
Unfinished | 953 1011 |
1987 2008 |
See also
References
- ^ "Nuclear Power in Bulgaria". World Nuclear Organization. August 2010. Archived from the original on 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2010-10-06.
- ^ Bulgaria quits Belene Nuclear Power Plant project, Novinite, 28 March 2012
- ^ "Bulgaria abandons Belene, announces new reactors at Kozloduy". 2022-02-16.
- ^ "Bulgaria energy strategy includes four new nuclear reactors". www.world-nuclear-news.org. Retrieved 2024-03-01.
- ^ https://www.capital.bg/biznes/energetika/2023/07/04/4503320_sriv_pri_toka_ot_vuglishta_i_rekord_za_vei_prez_juni_v/
- ^ “Nuclear Power in Bulgaria.” World Nuclear Association February 2008. < http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf87.html Archived 2009-01-21 at the Wayback Machine>
- ^ a b c "Bulgaria to push ahead with two new units at Kozloduy". world-nuclear-news.org. World Nuclear News. 25 Oct 2023. Retrieved 3 Nov 2023.