The contract is worth around $230 million, with Framatome ANP receiving $180 million and Atomenergoexport the remainder.
Kozloduy is owned by Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, a Bulgarian state-owned company. Units 5 and 6 are third-generation Russian-designed VVER-1000 pressurized water reactors, each with a rated output of 1000MW. The plant provides more than 40 per cent of Bulgaria’s electricity.
Modernization of the units is intended to bring them into line with Western European safety standards as well as improving availability. The project will focus on improvement of long-term cooling of the reactor, radiation and fire protection, instrumentation and control, the emergency power supply and enhancement of the plant operating reliability.
Work will take place during planned outages between 2002 and 2005.
The project is being carried out with financial support of Euratom. The Russian Roseximbank is also involved in financing. The modernization programme is in line with IAEA recommendations for upgrading safety of VVER-1000 reactors and was approved by the Bulgarian safety authority. Modernization is necessary if Bulgaria wishes to join the European Union.
