On July 25 in Sofia, Bulgaria, the representatives of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant and a consortium of Russia’s Rusatom Services and Bulgaria’s Risk Engineering Ltd signed the final report of the feasibility study on extending the service life of Kozloduy Unit 6 to 60 years. The study demonstrated that all assemblies, systems and structures were in operating condition. Unit 6 is safe to operate until 2051, provided that routine maintenance and repairs are carried out at the facility, its long-term performance is properly managed, and all recommendations listed in the final report are followed.

“Together with our partners, we have done a tremendous job,” Kirill Komarov, Rosatom’s First Deputy CEO for Corporate Development and International Business said. “Successful completion of this project was made possible thanks to a very responsible attitude of Russian and Bulgarian engineers, cultural affinity and mutual trust.”

According to Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova, the top priority of the Bulgarian government is to maintain the existing power generation and develop the nuclear power industry in full compliance with the international environmental and human health protection standards.

In 2017, Bulgaria granted a new 10-year extension operating license to Kozloduy Unit 5. The Bulgarian government regards the life extension of Unit 6 operating life as one of its main tasks.

On January 28, 2016 Kozloduy NPP and a consortium of Rusatom Services and Risk Engineering signed a contract for a feasibility study on extending the service life of Kozloduy Unit 6 to 60 years. The work was expected to take 30 months.