Bulgaria signs nuclear deal with US

An aerial view of the Kozluduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria

The deal, with an estimated price tag of around US$15 billion, is based on the construction and commissioning of AP1000 reactors and marks a strategic shift for Bulgaria away from reliance on Russian energy.

The agreement was signed on February 12 by acting Energy Minister Rumen Radev and US Department of Energy Undersecretary Andrew White.

The new reactors, each capable of generating 1,000 megawatts, are slated to be operational by the mid-2020s.

They will bolster the capacity of Bulgaria’s sole nuclear plant, situated on the banks of the Danube near the Romanian border.

Originally equipped with six reactors of Soviet origin, the Kozloduy plant has been downsized to just two VVER-1000 units, to comply with European Union regulations following Bulgaria’s accession in 2007.

The initiative is part of Bulgaria’s broader strategy to diversify its energy sources and reduce dependency on Russia.

Last June, Bulgaria signed an agreement with the US consortium Westinghouse for the construction of the reactors. The deal adds to a fuel procurement deal with the group, which will begin in mid-2024.