The Bulgarian Council of Ministers has formally granted a targeted sanctions derogation to allow the Kozloduy NPP to import critical iron and steel products, original components, and technical assistance from Russian suppliers. This decision exempts the power plant from certain restrictions within EU Council Regulation 833/2014, allowing public procurement contracts to fulfil existing agreements deemed necessary for technical security.
The Bulgarian government emphasised that maintaining the highest standards of nuclear safety, radiation protection, and operational reliability is the primary rationale for the exemption. Units 5 and 6 of the Kozloduy facility are Soviet-designed VVER-1000 reactors. Because the underlying systems are of Russian origin, sourcing matching safety components from alternative international vendors remains technically challenging.
“Guarantees of nuclear safety and trouble-free electricity production are ensured by regular supplies of elements and components from designers, builders and manufacturers of equipment installed at the station. A significant part of the station’s systems and equipment is of Russian origin; some contracts have been concluded or should be concluded with Russian contractors due to relevant technological requirements,” the statement says.
The exemption follows significant technical issues where unit 6 had to be taken offline multiple times due to failures with alternative, non-Russian replacement parts. These temporary shutdowns resulted in tens of millions of euros in economic losses and forced a return to original manufacturing materials.
The Kozloduy NPP is a vital cornerstone of national energy infrastructure, generating between 30-40% of Bulgaria’s total electricity output. The Bulgarian government has clarified that this derogation is strictly limited in duration, remaining valid only until the expiration or fulfilment of the specific contracts listed in the decision’s annexes.
