Germany also wants to stop nuclear equipment from Russia. Bulgaria against, so as not to close the Kozloduy NPP
After approval by the EC, the official cabinet allowed NEK and Kozloduy NPP to continue work with a Russian company
Germany has asked the EC to stop the supply from Russia of parts and equipment for nuclear plants with the new package of sanctions being prepared against Moscow.
Last weekend, the package of sanctions was discussed at an informal meeting of the MPs from the EU countries.
The removal of the exclusion for civilian nuclear energy in the new package of sanctions against Russia is unacceptable and inadmissible for Bulgaria, the Ministry of Energy said, however.
The department explained that sanctions against manufacturers of parts for Russian nuclear reactors and equipment for nuclear power plants are being considered. Nuclear fuel was not included. Bulgaria is against the proposal because, if it is accepted, there is a risk that the Kozloduy NPP will stop.
Sanctions on Russia’s nuclear industry will lead to the safety of the nuclear plant due to the lack of parts for scheduled annual repairs and recharging. This is also clear from the decision of the official cabinet at the end of the last week. It allows the National Electric Company and the Kozloduy NPP to continue working on its framework agreements and public procurement contracts with Russian companies.
On September 24, the sixth unit of the Kozloduy NPP will be shut down in order to begin its planned annual repair. Many of the parts can only be provided by Russian companies.
All in all, in the long term, there will be a diversification of fuel supplies, but the management decision states that the procedure for fuel cartridges from an alternative supplier cannot begin before a thorough safety assessment is carried out and before the alternative fuel is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency.
The EC will not include nuclear energy in the package of new sanctions against Russia, claims the publication “Politico”. After a debate, an opinion was formed that the sanctions should not affect spare parts for nuclear energy. Bulgaria and France have been the most active in the debate. Brussels organized a series of meetings with senior diplomats to hear the country’s proposals for the new series of sanctions. According to the publication, the package is expected to be unveiled this week.
Nuclear energy will be turned off mainly because of France and Bulgaria, where there are working atomic centers. They were key for both countries, and Bulgaria exports electricity to Greece and the Western Balkans, the publication writes.
And a possible embargo on the supply of nuclear equipment from Russia could cause problems with the maintenance of the nuclear power plant in Bulgaria.