In October, after the US company Westinghouse has signed agreements with five Bulgarian companies concerning their engagement in the construction of the two new nuclear units at Kozloduy NPP, now 17 more Bulgarian companies have been involved in the project, and KMC JSC is one of them.
Although the final investment decision for the construction of the two AP-1000 reactors has not yet been made, Westinghouse Electric Company (WEC) has signed memoranda of understanding with major Bulgarian manufacturers of key components, including large structural modules, cranes, heat exchangers and pressure vessels, as well as with engineering, transportation, consulting and construction companies.
The suppliers with whom the new contracts have been signed are Atomenergoremont, Bullmachinery Enterprises, Bureau Veritas Bulgaria; Tsentralna energoremontna baza (Central Energy Repair Facility), Elia, Energoremont-Galabovo, Himmash, Industrial Parts, KMC, Kranostroene Engineering, MTG-Delfin, Podemkran, Tia Logistics, TM Inox, Biomachinostroene, Bularmex-IC and Mikromet, announced the US company.
During the signing of the previous agreements with Oscar-El, Glavbolgarstroy, ENPRO Consult, EnergoService and EQE Bulgaria, it was already revealed that Bulgarian manufacturers of control and management systems, radiation monitoring systems, as well as suppliers of various types of services will be also involved.
„Attracting local companies and ensuring maximum localization in the project for the construction of a new nuclear power facility with the AP1000® technology at the Kozloduy site is still our main goal“, stated Mr Petyo Ivanov, Executive Director of Kozloduy NPP – New Capacities, quoted in the article.
„The signing of today’s agreements will bring us one step closer to the building of a new nuclear power facility in Bulgaria using the most advanced technology and will highlight the economic impact the project will have on our country and society“, added Mr Ivanov.
In his opinion, the Bulgarian companies involved will now become a critical part of Westinghouse’s global supply chain, in particular for any new nuclear power construction projects the US nuclear giant intends to implement in Europe.
„Westinghouse has a fully structured supply chain around the world and today we are very pleased to expand it by welcoming leading companies from Bulgaria in order to ensure the successful commissioning of two AP-1000 units at the Kozloduy site“, said Mr. David Durham, President of Power Systems department at Westinghouse.
„Expanding our chain of local, qualified suppliers, in addition to the key progress we are making in executing the preliminary engineering contract to build new nuclear power capacity at the Kozloduy site, are important steps that will help us pave the way to securing a clean energy future in Bulgaria for many generations to come“, noted Mr. Durham.
In June 2023, the American company signed a preliminary engineering works agreement with NPP Kozloduy – New Capacities.
The price that Westinghouse is requesting for the technology is expected to be announced in the near future, as well as the offer of the South Korean company Hyundai for the actual design, manufacture, delivery, installation and commissioning of the new reactors.
According to the estimates of the former energy minister Mr. Rumen Radev, the cost of the future units using the US technology is expected to not exceed 14 billion dollars or euros.
