Bulgaria has decided to lift sanctions on Russia concerning the supply of components for its nuclear power plants.
### Sofia Faces Challenges with Kozlodui Nuclear Power Plant
The Bulgarian authorities in Sofia have announced the lifting of sanctions on Russia to allow the delivery of necessary components to the Kozlodui Nuclear Power Plant, as reported by BNR. The government emphasized that maintaining the highest standards of technical and nuclear safety at the power plant is its top priority.
“The Kozlodui Nuclear Power Plant is Bulgaria’s only nuclear facility and is the largest electricity producer in the country, accounting for over a third of the nation’s annual output,” the official statement read. The decision to lift sanctions follows issues stemming from replacing Russian-made membranes with Bulgarian ones, which led to multiple shutdowns of Unit 6 and financial losses amounting to tens of millions of euros.
### Kozlodui Nuclear Plant: A Neighbor to Romania
Located about 120 km north of Sofia and 5 km east of the town of Kozlodui near Romania’s border on the Danube River, the Kozlodui Nuclear Power Plant is approximately 4-5 km from the Romanian frontier. It is Bulgaria’s sole nuclear power plant and the largest in the region. The construction of the first reactor began on April 6, 1970.
The plant supplies roughly 35-40% of Bulgaria’s electricity, and as of March 2026, it is undergoing a critical phase of expansion and technological transition. Of the original six units built, only two remain operational:
– **Units 1-4:** These were closed between 2002 and 2006 as a condition for Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union.
– **Units 5 and 6:** Currently operational, each with a capacity of 1,000 MW. Both units have undergone modernization to extend their operational lives by an additional 20 years. In March 2026, the Bulgarian government granted special exemptions to import original spare parts from Russia necessary for the maintenance of these Soviet-designed units.
Bulgaria has embarked on a major energy initiative to construct two new reactors: Units 7 and 8. The Sofia government announced plans to utilize AP1000 reactors supplied by the American company Westinghouse Electric.
This project is being carried out by a consortium that includes Westinghouse and Hyundai Engineering & Construction. The final investment decision is anticipated in the second half of 2026. Unit 7 is expected to be completed between 2033 and 2035, with Unit 8 projected to follow 2-3 years later, around 2037.
The total investment is estimated at approximately $14-15 billion, with financial and logistical support from Citi Bank. Starting in 2024, Bulgaria initiated efforts to reduce its dependency on Russian nuclear fuel for its existing units by securing alternative supply agreements with companies such as Framatome.
