US development agency announces grants for Bulgarian nuclear projects
The US Trade and Development Agency has signed two grant agreements to support Bulgaria's nuclear ambitions: one will support a cost-shared feasibility study with US company Deep Isolation to support the safe underground disposal of used fuel from Bulgaria's nuclear power plants, while the other will support a prefeasibility study for the deployment of small modular reactor technology.
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The US agency-funded study on underground disposal will be carried out by Deep Isolation to evaluate the feasibility of disposing used fuel from existing and future power plants a kilometre or more below ground, using Deep Isolation's patented deep borehole technology. The agreement was signed by US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Director Enoh Ebong and, on behalf of the Bulgarian government, by Sergey Tzochev, Head of the Board of Directors for State Enterprise Radioactive Waste (SERAW), who said: "Partnering with Deep Isolation represents a step toward our long-term vision of exploring innovative and sustainable approaches for the safe management of radioactive waste, based on the latest advancements in science and technology."
"Bulgaria is prioritising safety measures that will allow it to expand its nuclear power generation capacity," Ebong said. "Using cutting-edge US technology to create a safe long-term disposal option for spent fuel can also open the door to additional plants being built. USTDA's support for this project is a continuation of our longstanding engagement with the country's nuclear energy sector."
A separate grant agreement signed by USTDA with state-owned Bulgaria Energy Holding (BEH) is for a detailed technical analysis of US-sourced small modular reactor (SMR) design options to support Bulgaria's planned deployment of one or more SMR nuclear plants. It will also support an examination of potential plant sites and the development of a roadmap outlining a path to implementation, including an approach to securing financing.
"Our assistance will support Bulgaria’s goal of remaining a regional leader in electricity production while supporting international decarbonisation efforts," Ebong said.
"USTDA’s study will be crucial for the application of the new SMR energy technology in Bulgaria," Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov said.
BEH is a state-owned holding company which owns the main electricity generation facilities in Bulgaria, including the existing Kozloduy nuclear power plant, as well as the country's electricity and gas transmission grids and transit networks. In 2021, it signed a memorandum of understanding with US engineering firm Fluor to look at the possibility of replacing coal boilers with NuScale SMRs. The country has committed to stop using coal for electricity generation by the late 2030s, with plans including two new Westinghouse AP1000 reactors to be built at the Kozloduy site.
The USTDA strategically facilitates export opportunities for US companies, funding project preparation and partnership-building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
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