Bulgaria's Kozloduy NPP to Operate 20 More Years - French-Russian Tie-in

The exploitation of Bulgaria’s Kozloduy NPP units 5 and 6 may be extended by 20 years, according to the French-Russian consortium assigned with the units’ assessment.

The analyses of Electricite de France and Concern Rosenergoatom have proved that the 1000 MW units will be operational for at least 20 years and then possibly for another 10 years, CEO of Kozloduy NPP Ivan Genov said for Bulgarian Pressa Daily.

The NPP management submitted a preparation program for the two units’ life span extension in the Nuclear Regulatory Agency on 20 December. The exploitation license of unit 5 expires in 2017 and the license of unit 6 - in 2019.

The modernization program will be completed in two stages. The first one is expected to end in 2017 and will cost approximately EUR 200M. It includes the assessment of the remaining equipment and facilities life span of units 5 and 6 at Kozloduy NPP.

The procedure was assigned to the French-Russian consortium of Electricite de France and Concern Rosenergoatom on April 19, 2012 after the latter won the state tender.

Then by 2023 a gradual replacement of expiring equipment resources will be performed. The upgrade costs will amount to EUR 100-200M.

Kozloduy NPP will finance the modernization entirely with its own funds. The company reported some BGN 35M profit for 2013.

Recently the state Bulgarian Energy Holding (BEH) and US company Westinghouse  inked a deal for coordination of parameters for the new reactor at Kozloduy NPP.

The contract was signed by BEH representatives and Westinghouse CEO Danny Roderick in the presence of Bulgarian PM Plamen Oresharski in Sofia on 12 December, 2013.

Oresharski explained that the agreement sets a deadline of 9 months for preparatory work on the technical, financial and economic parameters of the project.

He expressed his hopes that this preparatory work can be completed ahead of that time.

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