Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov participates in Athens in the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation P-TEC
Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov discussed important issues for both countries in the energy sector during his conversation in Athens with US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. Minister Stankov is in the Greek capital to participate in the Sixth Ministerial Meeting of the Partnership for Transatlantic Energy Cooperation (P-TEC).
The two reported on the progress on strategic projects, including the Vertical Gas Corridor and the construction of units 7 and 8 at the Kozloduy NPP with Westinghouse's AR 1000 technology. Minister Stankov briefed his interlocutor on the talks preceding the signing of an engineering, supply and construction contract with a consortium between the American Westinghouse and the South Korean Hyundai. We are striving for an integrated solution for this key project, which will guarantee its successful implementation, emphasized Minister Stankov.
The two of them and Chris Wright also discussed cooperation between Bulgaria and the United States in the exploitation of nuclear power plants and the study of the possibilities for implementing small modular reactors in our country. We recall that in September the two signed a joint statement confirming the objectives of the intergovernmental agreement concluded between Bulgaria and the United States to strengthen civil nuclear cooperation.
With the document signed at that time, Bulgaria has the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of American laboratories in conducting a feasibility study to assess the viability and suitability of potential sites for the accelerated implementation of small modular reactors in the country.
Minister Stankov informed his interlocutor about our country's desire to invite companies that develop these technologies and are most advanced in this process, and to discuss with them the development of potential projects in Bulgaria. We would like to actively benefit from the American experience and successfully build on our decades of practice in the safe operation of nuclear power plants. In the face of small modular reactors, we can do this with the latest and most modern technologies in the sector, Minister Stankov emphasized.
Secretary Chris Wright invited Minister Stankov to Washington by the end of the year to create a joint expert group to provide the necessary operational support for accelerating projects of common interest between Bulgaria and the United States, which will implement new technologies and innovations in the energy sector.
Earlier in the day, the Minister of Energy also spoke with representatives of the Nuclear Energy Industry Association, USA. The development of nuclear energy in the country was also a central topic in these talks. Bulgaria has serious potential and has the ambition to attract world names for the development of gigafactories and data centers in the country, Minister Stankov emphasized and emphasized the need to direct investments to technologies that guarantee sustainability, stability and flexibility of the Bulgarian energy system. Along with small modular reactors, energy storage projects are solutions that can meet these challenges, he was categorical.
Minister Stankov also held meetings with American financial institutions, with whom he discussed securing funds for the construction of key energy projects in our country. The Export-Import Bank of the United States (Exim Bank) reaffirmed its support for the construction of new nuclear power plants in Bulgaria and expressed interest in participating in the project.
With the US Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Minister Stankov discussed the implementation of the four new PAWPPs in Bulgaria, as well as other future projects of regional importance.