Two Units of Kozloduy NPP Operating at Full Capacity as Scheduled

On July 30, Kozloduy NPP stated that its two units are currently operating at full capacity in accordance with the power generation plan. Affected by the persistently low water level of the Danube River, the plant established a special working group in early July and activated relevant response measures to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the units under conditions of prolonged river water level decline.

Kozloduy NPP is maintaining close communication with the Executive Agency for Exploration and Maintenance of the Danube River to continuously track water level trends. Monitoring data from recent days show that the Danube River water level has dropped to its lowest level in recent decades. This situation is mainly related to consecutive high-temperature weather and significantly reduced precipitation in Western and Central Europe, which cover the major part of the Danube River basin.

At the initiative of Bulgarian Energy Minister Eva Petrova, the Bulgarian side has established contact with Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Đedović and the Djerdap Hydropower Plant, hoping that the Serbian side can provide assistance within the technical capabilities of the hydropower plant to keep the water level in the relevant section of the Danube River for Kozloduy NPP above the critical operating threshold. The Djerdap Hydropower Plant and its hydropower system on the Romanian side operate in accordance with the operational convention signed by the governments of Serbia and Romania in 1998 and the water use permits.

The energy sector is also currently coordinating with the power system operator. Kozloduy NPP emphasized that Danube River water is used to cool steam in the condensers of the non-nuclear part of the plant, and is not used for cooling the nuclear reactor.

Continuous water supply to the plant is ensured by a shore pumping station. The pumping station was built in a deep-water bay of the river, and its design is based on, among other things, a century-long study of Danube River water levels, allowing it to maintain stable operation of relevant facilities under low-water conditions. An automatic continuous water level monitoring system is also installed in front of the pumping station to track changes in water intake conditions in real time.