Original news was published on 10 July, 2014
Deal with Bulgaria could be signed this month
Toshiba is the frontrunner to build a nuclear reactor at the Kozloduy power plant in Bulgaria. If Toshiba receives the US$80 billion engineering, procurement and construction contract, it will be the first time a Japanese company has exported nuclear technology to eastern Europe.
News of the possible deal was released by Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. Toshiba will sign the EPC contract for the third Kozloduy unit with Bulgarian Energy Holding this month. The company’s subsidiary, U.S.-based Westinghouse, will supply an AP1000 reactor.
Construction will likely start in 2016.
The existing reactors at Kozloduy were built by the Russians. In recent months, eastern European countries have looked for alternative ways to meet domestic energy demands as concerns grow over Russia’s conflict with the Ukraine.
“The Bulgarian government intends to diversify risk by incorporating a nuclear reactor not made by Russia,” said a senior Toshiba employee involved in the recent negotiations with the BEH. “If the Bulgarian government can boost the amount of nuclear power generated, there will be benefitsundefinednamely a reduction in the percentage of thermal power generated using natural gas imported from Russia.”
*NEWS SOURCE
