The role of nuclear energy in the energy security of the country

Currently, nuclear energy in Bulgaria provides over 1/3 of the country’s total electricity and over 2/3 of its low-carbon production. The implementation of the plans for the decarbonization of electricity production requires an increase in the share of nuclear energy, which should reach 45% and 60% (in 2035 and 2040, respectively) of the total net electricity production.
For this purpose, the plans for the development of the country’s electricity sector agreed with the EC, and all strategic development programs envisage that by 2040, the country will have 4,000 MW of nuclear power to provide the necessary basic electricity production and the conditions for the implementation of other related projects with the decarbonization of the electricity sector. The confirmed technical resource of units 5 and 6 of the Kozloduy NPP is until 2047 and until 2051, respectively, provided that the permit for their operation is successfully renewed every ten years. During this period, the construction of replacement capacities should also be ensured so that these 4,000 MW of nuclear capacities with an available service life until and after 2100 are secured in the long term.
This leads to the problem: What is the place of nuclear energy in the structure of generating capacities with a view to the long-term provision of the country’s energy security and the conditions for low-carbon energy transformation?

The discussion will address issues such as:

• What scenarios meet the main requirements for the development of the electricity system today – energy security and decarbonization?
• Is a just energy-affordable transition possible and how to reduce its impact on industry and the consumer?
• What is the place of nuclear energy in the structure of generating capacities in the long term?
• Are there national scenarios for providing an affordable and competitive low-carbon electricity mix without the use of nuclear power?

Discussion Moderators:

• Yanko Yanev (VINCC, NKMI)
• Stanislav Georgiev (Bulatom)

Interlocutors:

• Representatives of the state energy sector: Slavyan Lachev (BEH), Ventsislav Zakhov (ESO)
• Representatives of large electricity consumers: Ivaylo Naydenov, Rumen Radev (AIKB)
• Experts with many years of experience in the nuclear industry: Milko Kovachev (IAEA), Sabin Sabinov (Selmeda)