Work to upgrade unit 5 of the Kozloduy nuclear plant in Bulgaria has been completed, extending its operations by 30 years to 2047, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and Bulgaria’s Energy Ministry both announced yesterday. Meanwhile, Bulgaria today committed itself to fast-tracking payment of the debt it incurred to Russian companies for scrapping the Belene nuclear power plant project. The Kozloduy site is home to two operating Russian-designed VVER-1000 pressurised water reactors, Kozloduy 5 and 6, as well as four shut-down VVER-440s. Units 5 and 6 provide around one-third of Bulgaria’s electricity. Unit 5’s operating licence expires this month and that of unit 6 in October 2019. The government enlisted a consortium of Rosatom subsidiaries Rosenergoatom and Rusatom Service, and France’s EDF last year to carry out the work on unit 5. In January this year, Rusatom Services and Bulgaria’s Risk Engineering Ltd signed a contract to extend the operating period of unit 6 to 60 years.
World Nuclear News 26th Oct 2016 read more »