In May 2024, during the Planned Annual Repair (PGE), 44 heat-separating cassettes (THC) were installed in the active zone of the fifth Energy Block (EB) of the Kozloduy NPP. With this action, the modernization of 5 EBs is compromised, as until now the active zone has been charged with TOK of TVEL, a division of “Rosatom”. With this fuel, 104% power was achieved until now, which is expected to be unattainable with the new fuel.
It is supplied by “Westinghouse“ and has the following disadvantages:
- TOK of “Westinghouse“ have a smaller depth of burning, which depth of burning corresponds to the depth of burning that was used in TOK type TVS-M, which were applied in NPP “Kozloduy” EAD in 2003. In this way, the modernization of 5 and 6 EB is compromised, because due to the smaller burn depth, there is no way to reach 104%. This means that the economic effect will be smaller, which makes the investment in the new fuel pointless.
- The fuel of “Westinghouse“ has stayed from 2019 to 2023 in the Czech Republic. There are 6 pieces of TOK of “Westinghouse“ were placed experimentally for a four-year fuel campaign in the VVR active zone – 1000. After the fuel standstill until 2023, the Czech Republic is not hiring to enter into a contract with “Westinghouse“ for fuel of this type, and continues the fuel contract for its six VVR-type reactors with TVEL.
This fact arouses suspicion, because at the Kozloduy NPP EAD introduces the fuel of “Westinghouse“ based on the radiophysical calculations of the fuel from the stay in the Czech NPP. That is, Bulgaria takes a recommendation from experts who have not continued to use the fuel for which they guarantee. This also calls into question the veracity of the data from the Czech Republic.
Nuclear fuel is applied in the form of tablets placed in heat-separating elements (HES), which are a component of the heat-separating cartridge (HEC). In the case of “Westinghouse“ there are concerns that the strength of the heat-separating element is in question, since this type of cartridge has already been used in Ukraine, where the reactors that work with it operate at reduced power so as not to damage the integrity of the wall of the heat-separating element. This means that either the reactors of the “Kozloduy“ they will operate at lower power, maximum 70% and less current will be produced, or we risk breaking the integrity of the heat sink, which could be very dangerous.
The reason for this is that it is the heat-separating element that prevents radioactive fission elements from entering the heat carrier and prevents them from being released into the atmosphere. Its violation is a prerequisite for a nuclear accident, the consequences of which can be disastrous, both for the employees and for the entire Bulgarian people.
The health of TOK of “Westinghouse“ is questionable, because in the event of an emergency, such as the shutdown of a main circulation pump, the emergency protection must operate. The Management and Protection Systems Authority – the clusters must fall under their own weight onto the cartridge head. As a result of this impact, the cartridge head can be compromised, as has already happened in Ukrainian NPPs with this type of TOK. Regarding the strength of the TOC of “Westinghouse“ used an assessment of a company ISRN assisting the regulatory authority of France – a country that does not itself use Westinghouse fuel, but continues to buy Russian fuel despite the sanctions it wants to impose on the Russian Federation.
The cassette of “Westinghouse“ is in question, as it is a development of TVEL, borrowed from “Westinghouse”, for which lawsuits are ongoing between the two companies. The reason is that TVEL owns the patent for this type of TOK, which was their development 20 years ago, and today it is implemented by “Westinghouse“ completely borrowed from the old TVEL development.
NPP “Kozloduy“ EAD is the most inspected NPP in Europe and the world. The use of this type of fuel by “Westinghouse“ with the above-mentioned shortcomings, it can lead to an emergency situation and to the closing of the plant.
In a possible similar development of events, Bulgaria could destroy its nuclear energy and we could turn from an exporter of electricity into an importer. For example, our neighboring Turkey has a program for the development of nuclear energy, which manifests itself in the construction of 4 nuclear power plants with 4 power units each, that is, 16 reactors, which are being built jointly with “Rosatom”. Here is another danger of becoming energetically and economically dependent on neighboring Turkey, because without energy there is no economy.
This is why we call on all Bulgarian citizens on June 9 to come out and vote with number 12 for “Revival” in order to save Bulgarian energy.
The "Revival"
team