Westinghouse to deploy Gen III reactor technology in Bulgaria

Westinghouse Electric Company has established a joint working group with Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild to explore the deployment of 3rd generation nuclear reactor technology in Bulgaria.

The parties will focus on streamlining the deployment of AP1000 Generation III+ nuclear technology to enable Bulgaria to achieve its nuclear energy goals.

Westinghouse will evaluate regulatory, licensing and design bases to ensure full compliance with applicable regulations.

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David Durham, energy systems president for Westinghouse. “This cooperative agreement sets us on a path toward providing both economic and environmental benefits for the Bulgarian people while bolstering the country’s energy security.”

KNPP–Newbuild is a special project company owned by the single operating nuclear power plant in Bulgaria and was originally established to manage the build of one or two nuclear reactors at the Kozloduy NPP site.

There are currently two Russian-designed VVER-1000 reactors in operation at the Kozloduy site.

According to Westinghouse, the AP1000 reactor is the only operating Generation III+ reactor with fully passive safety systems and has one of the smallest footprints per MWe on the market.

Bulgaria has a prominent nuclear history. Since 1956 the Bulgarian government has favoured the use of nuclear power for electricity. The 2MWt IRT-2000 research reactor started up in 1961 and in 1966 an agreement was signed with the Soviet Union for commercial units, providing the basis of the country's power programme.

In January 2023 energy minister Rosen Hristov set out an energy strategy that includes plans for two new reactors at Kozloduy and two at Belene.