WRITTEN QUESTION P-2656/02

by Antonios Trakatellis (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(16 September 2002)

Subject: Decommissioning of nuclear reactors at Kozloduy compliance by Bulgaria with its obligations under the partnership agreement

In the light of the fact that units 1 and 2 of the nuclear power plant at Kozloduy should be fully decommissioned by the end of 2002 and that a date must be set for the definitive closure of units 3 and 4, which may be no later than 2006 pursuant to the Council's decision on the principles, priorities, intermediate objectives and conditions contained in the Accession Partnership with Bulgaria(1) and the commitments contained in the Sofia Memorandum, which Bulgaria signed with the Commission in 1999:

- what stage has been reached in the schedule for decommissioning units 1 and 2 of the nuclear power plant at Kozloduy and what work has been carried out or will be undertaken to decommission those units, three months almost before the appointed deadline, i.e. the end of 2002, expires;

- what measures will the Commission take in the event that Bulgaria does not meet its commitments on nuclear safety and the closure of the units which cannot be upgraded to Western safety standards owing to cost and what measures has it taken to ensure that Bulgaria sets a date for the definitive closure of units 3 and 4, as agreed, i.e. no later than 2006;

- what measures has Bulgaria taken to adopt a new energy strategy on the basis of adapting to free market rules (production and pricing, opening of the market to competition), improving energy efficiency and the management of nuclear waste, importing renewable sources of energy and revising its forecasts for energy demand on the basis of more realistic scenarios in terms of growth and intensive energy use?

(1) OJ L 44, 14.2.2002, p. 1.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(22 October 2002)

The Bulgarian Government has undertaken to cease operation of units 1 and 2 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant at the end of this year. The Commission is naturally following very closely and carefully the action taken in implementation of this decision. The Bulgarian Government is still preparing for this deadline, in legislative and technical terms, and to that end is receiving support from the international community, and in particular the EU.

A law on the safety and use of nuclear energy was adopted in July laying down extensive arrangements and principles for managing and controlling nuclear energy and radioactive waste. This law sets out the responsibilities of the nuclear regulator, extends its powers and independence and confirms the existence and use of funds for the management of radioactive waste and the dismantling of nuclear facilities.

At technical level, with financial support from the EU financed PHARE programme, a detailed evaluation of the measures needed to dismantle the Kozloduy power plant, the costs involved and the strategy to be adopted has been carried out. The whole dismantling process will comprise three main stages: shutdown, followed by technical procedures involving uncoupling the plant and initial dismounting operations in the area around the generator, then maintenance on site and storage of the dangerous elements for 30 years, in order to reach a radiation level which will allow final dismantling. A specialised team has already been set up for the purpose by the Kozloduy power plant.

The Commission points to the substantial financial contribution from the Community to help the work directly involved in, or resulting from, dismantling, in particular through the Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund (KIDSF), administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In March the Bulgarian Parliament ratified a framework agreement with the EBRD on the use of this Fund. The first projects have already been approved by the Assembly of Contributors, in particular the construction of a unit for the dry storage of radioactive waste on site, which is now the subject of an invitation to tender.

The Commission does not at present think that there is any real likelihood that Bulgaria might refuse to honour its commitments regarding the closure of certain units of the Kozloduy power plant, in particular units 1 and 2. The discussions concerning more specifically units 3 and 4 are being held as part of the negotiations with the Member States on Chapter 14 (energy). According to the terms of the 1999 agreement between the Commission and Bulgaria (which the EU has included in the negotiations on Chapter 14), Bulgaria has undertaken to decide in the course of this year on ceasing operation of those two units. The EU considers that definitive shutdown must take place in 2006 at the latest. The Bulgarian Government has recently announced that it proposes to close units 3 & 4 in 2006.

In July the Bulgarian Parliament adopted a new energy strategy which lays the foundations for the introduction of market mechanisms and the reshaping of the industry, including the improvement of Bulgaria's energy output. Output is clearly identified in this strategy as one of the priorities for the industry and Bulgaria is at present working out a number of scenarios for improving it. A number of texts have been adopted this year, and they already lay down the rules for the operation of the market, in particular to facilitate the transition from a price formation mechanism in which energy prices have hitherto been laid down by the administration to a system based on regulation. The regulator (the Science and Engineering Research Council) has therefore taken the responsibility of developing and implementing procedures for setting prices and tariffs for electricity, gas and urban heating.