This project will most likely, after spending a lot of money, stumble and will not be implemented, since the government is doing it in a very wrong way, inconsistent with legal requirements and European directives".
This was stated to the Bulgarian National Radio by energy expert Prof. Georgi Kaschiev on the project for the 7th and 8th units of the "Kozloduy" NPP.
According to him, the path being taken is wrong and will lead to a "catastrophe". According to him, there are at least 4-5 arguments in this direction:
"The decision of the Council of Ministers of October 24, 2023 was taken in violation of the law, since the 4 requested analyses were not presented, nor were they discussed with the public. A lawsuit is being filed on this occasion, we are waiting for its outcome. The way in which a decision is made to build a new nuclear power plant has long been reported to the EC, explained in detail, and most likely the EC, if not it, then perhaps other EU countries, will raise the issue of violating European directives. The second question is about the necessary financing. There are many examples in the history of nuclear energy when incorrect calculations of initial costs have failed the construction of the unit at all and they have been abandoned. The third risk factor - the authorities claim that there is a valid EIA report for Unit 7. This report entered into force in 2019 and in order to remain in force, the construction of this unit had to begin in the next 5 years, i.e. by April 2024. We all know that it has not begun. The Ministry of Environment and Water claims that its inspection in 2023 established that construction has begun. This is a very dubious, slippery position. I think that our enthusiasts will crash here. No one has said what we will do with the spent fuel. We have been in a punitive procedure by the EC for 5 years for not having a spent fuel management program after 2030. When the issue goes to serious talks with the Commission, this issue will be raised there.
As for the price and time for working on such a project, Prof. Kaschiev made a comparison:
"2 reactors of the same type that were built in the USA and were completed in 2023 and 2024 - instead of 4-5 years, were completed in 10 years and instead of 14 billion dollars, were completed for 36.5 billion dollars. This is one fact that shows how much they will cost. The other fact is that 2 years ago the Polish nuclear company signed a contract with "Westinghouse" and the American company "Bechtel" to build 3 units with AP1000, just like we plan in "Kozloduy", worth 47 billion dollars. So, 2 units, according to the most recent estimate, will cost over 32 billion dollars. All the claims of previous ministers that we would have set a red line to cost up to 14 billion euros are not based on any facts, but simply on lobbying claims.
According to him, the price of electricity in the USA from these two reactors is between 170 and 180 dollars per megawatt hour. After this reactor turned out to be so expensive in the USA, no one in North America intends to build another unit of this type, the energy expert emphasized.
"These are such overreaches in front of "Westinghouse", in front of the USA, that it is a bit shameful," he said regarding the Bulgarian project.
According to him, AP1000 is largely untested technology.
"No other reactor manufacturer in the world plans to design large reactors that will rely solely on passive systems for cooling the core in emergency conditions. They only use this method to cool small and medium-sized reactors. This approach is used only by "Westinghouse", which raises some doubts as to whether it will really ensure safety in a severe accident".
Anything is possible, it depends on how much money you plan to invest, answered Prof. Kaschiev when asked whether the two reactors intended for the "Belene" NPP should be installed in "Kozloduy". According to him, without clear business cooperation with "Rosatom" it is out of the question.
"Attention should be focused on continuing the operation of units 5 and 6, to stop this extremely high increase in the plant's costs. According to many statements by other experts, there are oligarchs standing at the entrance and exit, repeating the picture from the 1990s. And possibly replacement capacities for units 5 and 6 should be planned towards the end of their life, which is towards the end of the 1940s. Attention should be paid to building capacities for energy storage - this is what our system needs now. Otherwise, it is no wonder that we will end up with a problem like in Spain".
There is no clarity about the reasons for the power outages in Spain and other countries, the energy expert commented. According to him, intervention in this development is not ruled out.
According to him, the uncontrolled growth of photovoltaic capacities, which he defines as a tumor, must be stopped.
"This insane development of the "Green Deal" must be stopped and thermal power plants - those with a long equipment resource, with purification systems, etc., must remain in operation, and not close operating power plants and build some overpriced projects to please foreign interests".