Bulgaria hires foreign experts to assess Westinghouse nuclear fuel's safety

The consortium comprises Czechia-based energy equipment services provider ES Group, Ukraine's State Scientific and Technical Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety and Energy Safety Group Ukraine, the Nuclear Regulatory Agency said in a press release.

The French institute will study 20 reports analysing Westinghouse's RWFA nuclear fuel type throughout its life cycle, including in the context of malfunctions, transportation and storage.

For its part, the consortium will independently assess the compatibility of the new fuel type with the internal reactor control system of Unit 5, one of Kozloduy's two operating Soviet-designed VVER units, which Westinghouse Electric will supply with fuel.

The Nuclear Regulatory Agency will take the independent appraisals into account in its assessment of Kozloduy NPP's recently lodged application for licence for the use of Westinghouse fuel.

On Wednesday, Kozloduy NPP was granted an exemption by the Bulgarian government, allowing the plant operator to receive deliveries from Russian suppliers so as to carry out the planned annual maintenance of its other unit, Unit 6.