24 May (NucNet): The European Parliament has approved European Commission proposals to extend financial support for the decommissioning of Bulgaria’s Kozloduy nuclear power plant units 1 to 4 until 2013.
The vote, during a plenary session on 20 May in Strasbourg, France, approves European Commission proposals to earmark 300 million euro (EUR) (371 million US dollars) for the period from 2010 to 2013.
The proposed financial package would comprise EUR 180 million for site cleaning and safe treatment of radioactive waste, in addition to EUR 120 million for investment in energy efficiency measures.
The additional investment would add to the EUR 550 million already spent by the EU supporting Bulgaria in its efforts to decommission the four Kozloduy units, and addressing the economic impact of their closure.
MEPs also called for more stringent financial controls for the programme, stipulating the need for a detailed overview of individual projects including technical assistance, construction of a radioactive waste disposal facility and the treatment of dismantled waste, according to the statement by the European Parliament.
The European Parliament statement said the early closure of Kozloduy has already led to significant additional greenhouse gas emissions, so even though the programmme’s primary goal remains decommissioning, it must also contribute to modernisation of energy production, including renewable energy, new sustainable jobs and industries.
In 1999, the Bulgarian government agreed to close down Kozloduy nuclear power plant’s four Russian-built VVER 440-230 units as a condition of entry into the EU. Units 1 and 2 were shut down in 2002 and units 3 and 4 in 2006. Kozloduy-5 and -6 are newer VVER-1000 units and both are still in operation.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Two Kozloduy Units Closed As Bulgaria And Romania Join EU (News No. 1, 1 January 2007)
EC Gives Green Light For Bulgaria's Belene (World Nuclear Review No. 49, 7 December 2007)
EC Proposes Extension Of Financial Support For Bulgaria’s Kozloduy (News No. 79, 27 October 2009)
Bulgaria Tries To Find A Way Forward For New Units At Belene Unit (Insider No. 4, 23 October 2009)
