US-based Westinghouse said that while the shareholder
agreement with Bulgaria for construction of a new unit at the country's sole
nuclear power plant (NPP) Kozloduy had expired, discussions are continuing on a
new structure and timeline.
“This decision was made jointly by all
parties with current conditions in Bulgaria to support an infrastructure project
of this size,” Danny Roderick, Westinghouse president and CEO, said, as quoted
in a company press release on Thursday.
Last week Bulgarian energy
minister Temenuzhka Petkova said the government is proposing to Westinghouse
Electric Company, controlled by Japan's Toshiba Group, to acquire a 49% stake in
the planned 1,000 MW unit. By becoming a strategic investor the project,
Westinghouse would also ensure 49% of the financing needed for the NPP unit's
construction. Petkova also said that the exclusivity of the agreement signed
with Westinghouse was due to expire on March 31.
The Bulgarian government
signed last year with Westinghouse a shareholder agreement for the construction
of the new unit at Kozloduy NPP, under which the US company would provide all of
the plant's equipment, design, engineering and fuel and will issue a competitive
tender for the construction of the unit.
“While there is unanimity that
the project is clearly attractive in the long-term, the parties believe that
different models will need to be considered for deploying the AP1000 technology
in the future,” Roderick added.
“And in the near term
[Westinghouse] is focused on the immediate and quantifiable improvements of
Bulgaria's nuclear generating capacities through the introduction of
state-of-the-art Westinghouse technology and global experience,” Roderick said,
adding that Westinghouse continues to provide and offer assistance and global
technology to the entire spectrum of the plant operations from fuel and services
to decommissioning and waste management.
The Kozloduy NPP was left with
two operational reactors of 1,000 MW each after the country closed down four
units of 440 MW each to address nuclear safety concerns expressed by the
European Union prior to Bulgaria's accession to the bloc in 2007. Bulgaria plans
extension of the lifespan of the 1,000 MW units 5 and 6 of the Kozloduy
NPP.
In April 2012, the government in Sofia decided to add another 1,000
MW unit to the plant.