The Bulgarian government has approved an exemption from restrictive import measures imposed on Russia aimed at allowing the Kozloduy nuclear power station to procure goods and services for the operation of its two Russia-designed nuclear reactor units.

The government press service said the exemption will allow Kozloduy, Bulgaria’s only nuclear power station, to continue awarding contracts to Russian contractors and import iron and steel products from Russia. The exemptions will remain in effect until contracts expire.

According to the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA), given that much of Kozloduy’s equipment is of Russian origin, the station relies on Russian suppliers for the goods and services essential to its annual maintenance and the operation of its two commercial VVER-1000 pressursied water reactor units.