The licensing process has begun for the use of Westinghouse-manufactured VVER-1000 fuel in Unit 5 of the Kozloduy nuclear power station as Bulgaria steps up efforts to diversify from Russia-suppled reactor fuel.
The Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency said it had received an application for the use of Westinghouse fuel. It said the application comprised more than 80 documents totalling more than 8,400 pages.
In December 2022 the Bulgarian ministry of energy confirmed the signing of a 10-year contract with US-based Westinghouse for the delivery of nuclear fuel for Kozloduy-5, calling it a “new era” for the country’s nuclear energy sector.