Bulgaria to reduce Kozloduy nuclear plant capacity as Danube River level falls
The continuing decline in the Danube River waster levels prompted the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria to say that it would reduce capacity at one of its two units starting August 20.
The plant said that it would cut 120 MW capacity at unit 5 as part of measures to ensure continued safe operations. Kozloduy, Bulgaria’s sole nuclear power plant, has two Soviet-made 1000MW reactors in operation.
In a statement on August 19, the plant’s operator said that it was the first time in its 52-year history that it had to reduce capacity due to “extreme meteorologic and hydrologic conditions.”
Kozloduy said that its water pumping station has allowed it to continue using Danube River water for cooling in recent weeks, when other nuclear facilities on the Danube River have had to completely or partially shut down operations.
Neighbouring Romania shut down its Cernavoda nuclear plant last week, while Hungary has been forced to operate its Paks nuclear plant at minimum capacity.
Kozloduy’s operator said that the forecasts indicated a trend that Danube River levels would continue to drop, but gave no further details about any further potential reductions in the power plant’s capacity.
(Bulgaria’s sole nuclear power plant at Kozloduy. Photo: uvioc/flickr.com)
Please support independent journalism by clicking on the button below. For as little as three euro a month or the equivalent in other currencies, you can support The Sofia Globe via patreon.com and get access to exclusive subscriber-only content:
