UPDATE 1 - Bulgaria's Kozloduy NPP signs nuclear fuel supply deal with Westinghouse

The agreement is in line with NPP Kozloduy’s programme for the diversification of fresh nuclear fuel supplies, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The signing of the contract follows a decision by the Bulgarian parliament to speed up the process of securing an alternative supplier for the power plant, which is currently using fuel delivered by Russian company TVEL.

The agreement has a term of ten years and will come into effect after it is also signed by the Supply Agency of the European Atomic Energy Community.

According to the statement, the deal was reached at “significantly improved” terms compared to the offer received in July.

Westinghouse will also implement an internal reactor control system in 2023, which for safety reasons will work in parallel with the current one, allowing for staff training and technology synchronisation.

A similar agreement is also being prepared with France's Framatome for the supply of fuel for the power plant's other 1000-MW unit, the ministry said.