Brussels' wish for ​​a relatively rapid decommissioning of the coal-fired power plants of European Union Member States has the potential to create huge imbalances in Bulgaria's electricity system, writes Borislav Boev, a PhD student at D A Tsenov Academy of Economics.

The USA and Bulgaria recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on civil nuclear cooperation. Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov noted that nuclear energy is one of the "greenest and cleanest" energies and that is why the country wants to use "safer technology of the latest generation" and to achieve diversification of nuclear fuel.

Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom announced today it has signed Memoranda of Understanding with France's Framatome and GE Steam Power of the USA to participate in a tender to construct the Belene nuclear power plant in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria has shortlisted five companies to participate in the Belene nuclear power plant project. The applicants included three to be a strategic investor and two to be an equipment supplier.

The USA intends to send a technical team to Bulgaria to explore the possibilities for further cooperation in different areas of energy, including nuclear, President Donald Trump said yesterday in a joint statement issued with Prime Minister Boyko Borissov of Bulgaria. The two leaders also expressed support for the licensing and use of US nuclear fuel for Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear power plant.

Bulgaria’s Nuclear Regulatory Agency has granted a 10-year extension to the operating licence of unit 6 at the Kozloduy nuclear power unit. The Russian design VVER-1000 in northern Bulgaria started operation in 1991 and can now continue generating electricity until October 2029.

Bulgaria has received 13 applications for participation in the Belene nuclear power project, the country’s energy minister announced today. The applicants included seven to be a strategic investor, four to be an electricity customer and/or minority shareholder, and two to be an equipment supplier.

Five companies have expressed interest in Bulgaria's invitation for strategic investment in the construction of Belene nuclear power plant on the Danube River near the Romanian border. According to national newspaper 24 Chasa, China National Nuclear Corporation, Framatome, General Electric, Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power and Rosatom have all applied for the selection process.

The Bulgarian government has invited strategic investment in the Belene nuclear power plant project. The "call for expressions of interest for a strategic investor and/or acquisition of a minority shareholding and/or purchase of electricity" was published in the Official Journal of the European Union yesterday.

Bulgaria's State Enterprise Radioactive Waste has awarded a further three-year extension to the Decommissioning-Repository Project Management Unit Consultant contract to the Empresarios Agrupados/Nuvia Consortium. The contract will now run through to 2022.

Bulgaria's National Electricity Company yesterday announced a call for selection of a strategic investor for the construction of Belene nuclear power plant on the Danube River near the Romanian border. The call also allows for expressions of interest to acquire a minority shareholding in the future project.

A plasma melting facility at Bulgaria's Kozloduy nuclear power plant has started operations, heralding a breakthrough in nuclear waste disposal to boost the decommissioning process.