Westinghouse extends AP1000 reactors contract in Bulgaria
Westinghouse Electric has extended its front-end engineering and design contract with Bulgaria’s Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild for the construction of two AP1000 reactors at the Kozloduy nuclear power plant (NPP).
The partnership, which began in June 2023, focuses on evaluating Kozloduy’s infrastructure for deploying the AP1000 reactors. Following this phase, the project will move to engineering services, including design, licensing, training, project management, and site planning in preparation for construction.
In early 2024, Westinghouse delivered the first VVER-1000 fuel reload for KNPP Unit 5 at Kozloduy NPP under a ten-year contract. The AP1000 reactors feature passive safety systems, modular construction, and the smallest footprint per MW on the market. Globally, AP1000 technology is seeing extensive deployment, with operational units in China and the US (Vogtle site) and additional projects in Poland, Ukraine, and other countries in Central and Eastern Europe, the UK, India, and North America. By 2030, 18 AP1000 units are expected to be operational worldwide.
Dan Lipman, President of Westinghouse Energy Systems, emphasized the company’s commitment to Bulgaria’s energy security and its collaboration with Kozloduy NPP-Newbuild. Westinghouse aims to strengthen Bulgaria’s supply chain to support the Kozloduy project and other European initiatives.
In September 2024, Westinghouse also partnered with Hyundai Engineering & Construction to explore nuclear power opportunities in Sweden and Finland.