BulAtom Position

The current Position of Bulatom represents an update of the 2022 Position on the Need to Ensure Conditions for Sustainable Development of Nuclear Energy in Bulgaria, which BULATOM developed and published.

In the period after 2022, this position of BULATOM played a significant role in the discussion of the various plans and drafts of energy development strategies in the country, which were periodically presented to the public by the responsible institutions. In the same period, a number of practical steps were also taken to accelerate the construction activities of Units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy NPP on Site No. 2 approved by the NRA, which are welcomed by BULATOM as replacing the fosil fuel base load capacities subject to decommissioning.

Analyses of the long-term prospects for the development of the country’s electricity generation capacities show that in order to preserve the long-term role of nuclear energy as a base power, guaranteeing a stable energy mix for Bulgaria, it is necessary to ensure the timely construction of another new nuclear power capacity, which will replace units 5 and 6 of the Kozloduy NPP after their operational life has been exhausted.

In this regard, the Association raises the issue of the urgency of developing and adopting a long-term energy strategy for the country, which would determine the prospects for the development of the electricity sector over a sufficiently long period, including after the end of the lifetime of the nuclear units currently in operation.
Taking into account all these considerations, BULATOM reaffirms its position on the need for a long-term policy for sustainable development of nuclear energy and expects the country’s future energy strategy to create conditions for preserving the long-term role of nuclear energy as a base load, guaranteeing a stable energy mix of Bulgaria.

As the main non-governmental organization representing the interests of the Bulgarian nuclear industry, BULATOM expresses its readiness to participate in the preparation of such a long-term strategy by engaging the expert capacity of its members.

The text of the position can be read here