KNPP-Newbuild, established in 2012, is responsible for preparing the expansion of Bulgaria’s only commercial nuclear power station at Kozloduy.
Westinghouse said the agreement establishes a joint working group to begin the planning process and evaluate regulatory, licensing and design aspects for the proposed new-build project at Kozloduy.
Bulgaria has two Russia-designed VVER-1000 PWR units in commercial operation at Kozloduy, on the Danube River in the north of the country.
Both have received operating lifetime extension until the late 2020s, but the units could be operated beyond those dates subject to regulatory approval.
In January, the Bulgarian parliament passed a motion requiring the country’s caretaker government to begin work towards the deployment of a Westinghouse-made AP1000 pressurised water reactor plant at the existing Kozloduy site and to begin an environmental impact assessment for a second unit.
The government also presented a new energy strategy until 2053 which included the revival of the Russia-supplied two-unit Belene project and the proposed construction the AP1000s at Kozloduy.
The move came amidst the collapse of governing coalition talks which meant Bulgarians will head to the polls on 2 April for a fifth general election in two years.
Political uncertainty means key decisions in the energy sector will have to be taken after the eventual formation of a new majority, likely in May 2023.
In December 2022 Bulgaria signed deals with Westinghouse and France’s Framatome on nuclear fuel supply for the existing Kozloduy units, replacing Russia’s Tvel from 2024 because of supply security and diversification concerns.
