Sanctions on Russia’s nuclear power industry could risk the operation of Bulgaria’s only commercial nuclear power station and even lead to its shutdown, acting* energy minister Rossen Hristov said.

The Bulgarian energy ministry said Hristov had told a television network thar Bulgaria “still depends on the supply of Russian parts, information and consulting services and others” for the operation of Kozloduy, which has two Russia-designed VVER-1000 PWR units in commercial operation.

Hristov told BTV that delivery of fresh nuclear fuel and removal of spent fuel also depends on Russia.

The two Kozloduy units are Bulgaria’s only commercial nuclear reactors and according to International Atomic Energy Agency data supply about 34% of the country’s electricity.