Nuclear regulatory authority
The independent regulatory authority is the Nuclear Regulatory Agency.
Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA) performs state regulation of the safe use of nuclear energy and ionising radiation, and the safe management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. The NRA establishes regulatory requirements on nuclear safety and radiation protection, issues licences and permits, carries out regulatory control and imposes enforcement measures to ensure compliance with the normative requirements.
Nuclear energy activities
Nuclear facilities are concentrated at the Kozloduy NPP site where six power units have been built. There are two reactors – type WWER-1000, model 320 – currently in operation and four reactors – type WWER 440, model 230 – in the process of decommissioning. One research reactor, located in Sofia was shut down in 1989. In addition there are waste disposal facilities, medical units, industrial radioactive sources, and transportation of radioactive material.
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Nuclear power unit
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Type
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Installed Capacity (MWe)
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Status
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Construction Date
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Grid Date
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Shutdown Date
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Kozloduy-1
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PWR
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440
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Decommissioning
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01 Apr 70
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24 Jul 74
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31 Dec 02
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Kozloduy-2
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PWR
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440
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Decommissioning
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01 Apr 70
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24 Aug 75
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31 Dec 02
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Kozloduy-3
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PWR
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440
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Decommissioning
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01 Oct 73
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17 Dec 80
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31 Dec 06
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Kozloduy-4
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PWR
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440
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Decommissioning
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01 Oct 73
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17 May 82
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31 Dec 06
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Kozloduy-5
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PWR
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1000
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Licence for operation to 2027
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09 Jul 80
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29 Nov 87
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Kozloduy-6
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PWR
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1000
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Licence for operation to 2029
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01 Apr 82
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02 Aug 91
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Nuclear facilities in operation
The Kozloduy NPP Units 5 and 6 feature WWER-1000 reactor type, model B-320, (2000 MW of installed electrical capacity), protection containment and triple redundancy of the safety systems. The plant life extension project activities for both units were implemented and in 2017 and 2019, the NRA renewed the operating licences of Unit 5 and 6 respectively, for the maximum statutory term of 10 years. In 2016, the Unit 6 and in 2019, the Unit 5 programme for thermal power uprate to 3120 MW was fulfilled.
Facilities in the process of decommissioning
Four nuclear power reactors are in the process of decommissioning in Bulgaria. Units 1-4 with reactor type WWER-440, model В-230 (units 1 and 2), and advanced model В-230 (units 3 and 4), were shut down in 2002 and 2006, respectively, prior to the expiry of their design life, in pursuance of commitments undertaken by the Republic of Bulgaria during its accession to the European Union. In 2014 and 2016, the NRA issued decommissioning licences to units 1 and 2, and units 3 and 4, respectively. The spent fuel is removed from the reactors and from at the reactors pools. The main equipment in the Turbine Hall has been dismantled. The activities for RAW management, and preparation works for dismantling of the equipment in the controlled area are being carried out. The objective of the decommissioning is to remove the sources of ionizing radiation and to release the site from regulatory control. The adopted by the Republic of Bulgaria Strategy for continuous dismantling of Kozloduy NPP Units 1-4 envisages their decommissioning to be completed by 2030.
Radioactive waste and spent fuel management
The management of radioactive waste in Bulgaria outside the place of their generation is carried out by the State Enterprise Radioactive Waste, which is established pursuant to article 78 (1) of the Act on the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy. There are four specialized divisions within the enterprise, namely:
- Specialized division on Kozloduy NPP site responsible for decommissioning of the Kozloduy NPP units 1-4.
- Specialized division on Kozloduy NPP site responsible for conditioning and storage of low and intermediate level RAW generated as a result of the operation of the Kozloduy NPP.
- Specialized division on Novi Han storage facility site – responsible for processing and storage of low and intermediate level RAW generated in industry, medicine and science.
- Specialized division responsible for the implementation of the project for National Disposal Facility for low and intermediate level short-lived RAW from nuclear facilities and nuclear applications. A construction permit has been issued in 2017 and the civil works have been started.
The only facility, which generates spent nuclear fuel in Bulgaria, is the Kozloduy NPP. The spent fuel is stored in the at-reactor pools of Units 5 and 6 and two spent fuel storage facilities.
The Wet Spent Fuel Storage Facility is intended for long-term (not less than fifty years) storage of spent fuel under water from both reactor types WWER-440 and WWER-1000, following an initial storage in the at-reactor spent fuel pools lasting at least three years.
The Dry Spent Fuel Storage Facility is designed for long-term storage in containers (not less than fifty years) of spent fuel from Kozloduy NPP reactors WWER-440, using the “dry storage” technology.
Apart from the storing of spent fuel on the Kozloduy NPP site, part of it is shipped to the country of origin for reprocessing.
Main legal instruments
The fundamental act in the field is the Act on the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy (ASUNE). It governs the public relations in terms of state regulation of the safe use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation and the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel as well as the rights and obligations of the entities carrying out such activities to ensure nuclear safety, security and radiation protection.
The ASUNE provides that the NRA shall develop and submit to the Council of Ministers for approval secondary legislation normative documents associated with the law enforcement. The main regulations are Regulation on Ensuring the Safety of Nuclear Power Plants, Regulation on Radiation Protection, Regulation on the Issuance of Licences and Permits for the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy, Regulation on Ensuring the Safety in Spent Fuel Management, Regulation on Safety during Decommissioning of Nuclear Facilities, and Regulation on Safe Management of Radioactive Waste.
According to the ASUNE, in addition to the NRA Chairman, other authorities also carry out specialised control over the facilities and activities associated with the use of nuclear energy and ionising radiation. Such authority is granted mainly through the following acts:
- Environmental Protection Act;
- Energy Act;
- Health Act;
- Disaster Protection Act;
- Ministry of Interior Act;
- Access to Public Information Act.
Last updated in September 2020
