Nuclear profile
Bulgarian nuclear energy program was launched in 1974 with the commissioning of the first nuclear power unit of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Nuclear power in the country is concentrated at the Kozloduy site. By 2002, the total installed capacity of Kozloduy NPP was 3760 MWe, respectively 4 units with 440 MWe VVER-440 and 2 units with 1000 MWe VVER-1000. Due to the decommissioning of Unit 1-4, after 31.12.2006, the total installed capacity of the plant decreased to 2000 MWe.
TORTA!!!!
After the closure of the four Kozloduy units, the share of nuclear power in the country energy mix has decreased from 45-48% in 2002 to 33.6% (15.3 billion kilowatt hours) in 2009..
The Republic of Bulgaria is planning the construction of a new nuclear energy capacity on the Belene site. Belene is planned to include two nuclear power units, equipped with VVER-1000/ A 92 design reactors. Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA) has approved the selected site in 2007. Currently the application for approval of technical design is being reviewed.
In addition to NPPs, Bulgaria has also a nuclear research reactor IRT-2000. The reactor was stopped in 1989 and currently, in fulfilment of a Decree of Council of Ministers (DCM) is under reconstruction. It will be reconstructed into research reactor with low power 200 kW.
Regulatory Profile
Regulatory control of the use of nuclear energy and ionising radiation has been implemented by the Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA).
Radiation and nuclear facilities and activities
Nuclear Facilities
Kozloduy NPP
Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6
Spent Fuel Storage Facility (SFSF)
Dry SFSF
Belene NPP
On 8 April 2005 the Government made a decision for construction of a new nuclear power generating capacity in Bulgaria.
The decision specifies that the nuclear power plant shall have a maximum total capacity of 2000 MW electrical power generated by pressurised water reactors.
The decision is made on the basis of:
* Technical and economic analysis (feasibility assessment);
* Approved environmental impact assessment report;
* Public hearing series held in the period 2002 – 2004.
State Enterprise RAW
Radioactive Waste Repositories:
· Permanent Repository for Radioactive Waste (PRRAW) – Novi Han
· Specialized Division for Radioactive waste (SDRAW) – Kozloduy
· National Repository for Disposal of Radioactive Waste
Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy (INRNE)
Research Reactor
· Reactor type: IRRT-2000.
· Commissioning: 1961
· Shut down: 1989
· Final shutdown with resolution of the Council of ministries in May 1999.
· 06 July 2001 – resolution of the Council of ministries for reconstruction in a reactor with low power 200 kW and partial decommissioning during the reconstruction.
· Licensing status:
o 18 December 2004 – Permission for design of research reactor with low power
o 24 April 2004 – Application for approval of design
· Current condition: The process approval of the design is under development.
In 2008 was completed the joint project between Bulgaria, Russian Federation, USA and IAEA for releasing the reactor site from nuclear fuel. In July 2008 all of the spent nuclear fuel is returned to the Russian Federation accumulated from the commissioning of the reactor in 1961 to its shut down in 1989.
The full release of the reactor site from spent nuclear fuel contributes to the sufficient risk decrease for the public and the environment and opens the way for fulfillment of the Council of ministries resolution for partial decommissioning and reconstruction in a reactor with low power.
Responsibilities and functions of the government
Institutional framework
In accordance to the Act of the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy (the Nuclear Act), the Agency has been authorized to carry with the executive authorities in whose jurisdiction is granted regulatory and control functions in the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation and the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel and propose to the Council of Ministers measures for coordinating these activities. Such coordination is continuous and is a common expression in activities with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Environment and Water, Ministry of Defense, Civil Protection National Service , Customs, State Agency for metrological and technical control and others.
The Republic of Bulgaria has the necessary institutions for establishment and implementation of the national policy on safe use of nuclear energy and to carry out the state regulation and control. Responsibilities and duties are clearly defined and distributed among the respective authorities as follows:
- Nuclear Regulatory Agency – the regulatory body on the matters of nuclear safety and radiation protection and the safe management of Radioactive Waste (RAW) and Spent Nuclear Fuel (SNF). NRA establishes regulatory requirements on nuclear safety and radiation protection, issues licenses and permits, carry out regulatory control and impose enforcement measures to ensure compliance with the regulatory requirements, etc.;
- Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (MEET) implements the state policy on energy development and implementation of the energy policy. Ministry drafts and implements the national strategy for energy development and the national strategy for spent fuel and radioactive waste management;
- State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission - implements the state policy of control of prices of generated electricity and issues licenses for the generation of electrical and thermal power;
- Ministry of Health implements the state policy of protecting public health and establishes mandatory health regulations, requirements and rules on all matters of hygiene, epidemiology and radiation protection. Through its specialized units, the ministry carry out specific functions in the area of health protection in the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation. Such specialized units are the National Centre of Radiobiology and Radiation Protection, as well as the departments “Radiation Control” at the Regional Inspectorates for Protection and Control of Public Health;
- Ministry of Environment and Water (MEW) directs, coordinates and supervises the development and implementation of state policy on environmental protection, conservation and use of water and the earth. The Ministry manages the National system for environmental monitoring and is the competent decision making body in respect of the Environmental Impact Assessment;
- Ministry of Interior ensures the security of nuclear facilities and related sites, being identified as particularly important in terms of physical protection. The Ministry, through the General Directorate for Civil Protection coordinates activities to protect the population and national economy in the case of a disaster, including the conduct of risk assessment, preventive measures, rescue and emergency repair work and for providing international assistance.
The Minister of Transport and Communications and the Minister of Defence also perform specialized functions in the use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation.
Legislative framework
The fundamental Law to ensure the safety of facilities and activities is the Act on the Safe Use of Nuclear Energy (in force since July 2002). The Act regulates the matters related to the regulatory control. ASUNE is based on the fundamental principles of:
Detailed requirements for nuclear safety and radiation protection are specified in the regulations for implementing the ASUNE (over 20 regulations).
The Law on Environmental Protection, Law on Health, Disasters Protection Act and other laws and regulations are also related to the safe use of nuclear energy.
Responsibilities and functions of the regulatory body
The regulator has been authorise with:
1. Issuance, modifying, suspending and revoking licences and permits (authorisations) on activities under the nuclear law;
2. Carring out regulatory Control of safety requirements and standards related to the use of nuclear energy and ionising radiation,, as well as the terms of the licences and permits issued;
3. Exercising enforcement power and imposing administrative sanctions
4. Co-ordination of use of nuclear energy and ionising radiation activities with other competent authorities in the country;
5. Develop and submit for adoption to the Council of Ministers regulations for the application of this act;
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Reference and other useful information
Regulatory Knowledge Base
Regulatory Pyramid
System of licensing
To ensure the safety of facilities and activities, the ASUNE establishes an authorisation regime of issuing licenses and permits. Licensing process is conducted under the conditions of transparency and equality and is based on the fundamental legal principles:
- Responsibility for ensuring nuclear safety and radiation protection lies in full by the persons responsible for facilities and activities and may not be transferred to others;
- Persons responsible for facilities and activities shall establish and maintain an effective safety management system;
- The expected economic, social and other benefits shall outweigh the possible adverse effects of activities;
- Measures to ensure nuclear safety and radiation protection shall be optimized so as to ensure achieving the highest possible reasonably achievable level of protection;
- Exposure of personnel and the population shall be limited and maintained as low as reasonably achievable level;
- The concept of defence in depth shall be applied, having implemented all reasonable practicable measures to prevent accidents and limit their consequences;
- An effective system for emergency preparedness and response in case of a nuclear or radiological emergency shall be established and maintained;
- Protective measures to reduce current and uncontrolled exposure shall be justified and optimized;
- The competent authority which carried out the state regulation of the safe use of nuclear energy and ionizing radiation shall be provided with the human and financial resources, which are sufficient to carry out its responsibilities in full.
- Chapter Three of the ASUNE determine the scope of activities, facilities and materials subject to authorisation. License is issued to operate a nuclear facility (unit of a nuclear power plant, facility for spent fuel, facility for radioactive waste management, research reactor, Decommissioning;
). The maximum term of the license is 10 years. Thus the operator can plan long-term activities and to devote more resources to safety improvements. An option is given to renew the license on the basis of a periodic safety review. The law places very precise and clear requirements to the operator in respect of the conditions and criteria to be met in order to obtain a license, by which the subjective decision-making by the regulatory authority is avoided. The conditions, under which the licensee may request license amendment and the grounds for suspension or revocation of licenses, have been precisely specified.
For one-time activities, related to nuclear safety and radiation protection, the law provides for issuing of a permit. Those are the following cases:
- Siting of a nuclear facility;
- Design of a nuclear facility;
- Construction of a nuclear facility;
- Commissioning of a nuclear facility;
- Making changes, leading to modification of:
* Structures, systems and equipment related to nuclear safety and radiation protection;
* The conditions and limits for safe operation on the basis of which is authorized to operate;
* Internal rules for the activity, including instructions, programs, technical regulations annexed to the operating license;
- Transport of nuclear material;
- Business transactions with nuclear facilities;
- Import and export of nuclear material;
- Transit of nuclear material.
Review Missions
IRRS
OSART
Event Reporting&Feedback
Experience Feedback (OEF)
Generic Safety Issues (GSI)
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