Low Danube Water Level Tests Bulgaria's Nuclear Operations, Energy Minister Says Kozloduy Plant Can Sustain Operations for About a Week and a Half

Bulgarian Energy Minister Iva Petrova said on August 7 that if the Danube River water level remains at its current level, the Kozloduy nuclear power plant can continue normal operations for about a week and a half. She described the situation facing the plant as "difficult and dynamically changing," while emphasizing that the plant is currently operating stably with no direct failures affecting power generation.

The Kozloduy nuclear power plant is a critical facility in Bulgaria's power system, and the high attention paid to Danube water level changes is mainly related to the cooling conditions required for plant operations. Persistently low water levels may increase operational dispatch pressure and require the energy sector to more frequently assess safety margins and subsequent response measures. Petrova's remarks indicate that the plant still has room for operation in the short term, but if hydrological conditions continue to deteriorate, the risk of load reduction or shutdown will rise.

Regarding possible forced shutdowns or reduced power generation, Petrova stated that Bulgaria's energy system has the capacity to provide the necessary electricity, which to some extent alleviates market and public concerns about supply security. This statement implies that the Bulgarian government believes the domestic generation mix, reserve capacity, and regional power dispatch can still support short-term supply-demand balance.

Meanwhile, Bulgaria's recent external electricity exports have reached record levels, with daily exports exceeding 32,000 MWh to neighboring regions. Petrova attributed this to the regional energy situation and Bulgaria's strong cross-border power interconnection capacity. The current energy market in Southeast Europe has high demand for stable power sources, and Bulgaria, leveraging its nuclear power, thermal power, and regional transmission corridors, has played a more significant role in regional power flows.

When discussing the agreement between Bulgarian state company Bulgargaz and Turkish state energy company BOTAŞ, Petrova stated that the agreement reached by the two parties is a contract between two commercial companies and is confidential in nature, and therefore cannot be disclosed to the public. This statement also reflects that the balance between energy supply, cross-border cooperation, and commercial confidentiality remains a sensitive issue in Bulgaria's energy policy.