September 18 (SeeNews) - Bulgaria's energy ministry said that the national nuclear regulator is expected to grant an extension of the operational licence of nuclear power plant (NPP) Kozloduy's Unit 6 within the next few weeks.
This will guarantee the effective work of both units of Bulgaria's sole nuclear power plant during the period of the licence extension, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
In November 2017, the nuclear regulator granted a ten-year extension of the operational licence of NPP Kozloduy's Unit 5, to 2027.
Even though the conclusions of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency indicate that there are no restrictions to the safe operation of the unit for 30 years, until 2047, the ten-year extension of the operational licence is the maximum possible under the law, the energy ministry said at the time.
Kozloduy remained with two operational units of 1,000 MW each, Units 5 and 6, after Bulgaria closed down four older units of 440 MW each to address the nuclear safety concerns of the European Union prior to the country's accession to the bloc in 2007.