SOFIA, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Bulgaria's Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA) has been systematically studying small modular reactors (SMRs) to ensure readiness for licensing if needed, the agency's chairman Tsanko Bachiyski said on Wednesday.
Speaking at the agency's annual press conference, Bachiyski said that while the future of SMRs in Bulgaria remains uncertain, the NRA has been actively working on the technology. "We are systematically preparing, and we will not stop," he said.
He emphasized that the decision to build a nuclear power plant in Bulgaria rests with the Council of Ministers. "If such a decision is made, we do not want to be an obstacle," he said.
Bachiyski highlighted global interest in SMRs, citing their enhanced safety features and deployment flexibility. He pointed to China as an example, noting that the country has already put SMRs into operation.
SMRs typically range in capacity from 70 to 300 megawatts (MW) and come in various designs, making them adaptable to different national energy needs, he said. However, he acknowledged that it remains unclear whether Bulgaria or its industries would seek to install such reactors. "Although this is not our first priority, we are preparing in this direction," he said.
Currently, Bulgaria has one nuclear power plant, the 2,000-MW Kozloduy NPP, which operates two 1,000-MW units and generates more than one-third of the country's annual electricity supply.
