Bulgarian caretaker Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov and Canadian Ambassador to Bucharest Gavin Buchan have announced a new collaboration between Bulgaria and Canada focused on sharing expertise in nuclear energy.
Minister Malinov highlighted the ongoing development of units 7 and 8 at Bulgaria’s Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant, calling it an essential and irreversible project. He emphasized that this initiative, which has strong political backing, is crucial for ensuring energy security and providing affordable, clean electricity for Bulgaria.
The meeting also included representatives from the Canadian Commercial Corporation, Ontario Power Generation, and Laurentis, a Canadian engineering firm. Malinov outlined the project’s timeline, noting that a final investment decision is anticipated by the end of next year.
Ambassador Buchan expressed enthusiasm for deepening Bulgarian-Canadian cooperation in the energy sector, particularly in nuclear energy. With over 200 Canadian companies active in the field, many of which operate in Europe, Buchan saw this collaboration as a significant opportunity for mutual benefit.
The discussions also touched on the potential of small modular reactors (SMRs) as additional energy sources. Minister Malinov conveyed Bulgaria’s strong interest in Canada’s expertise with SMRs, recognizing their potential to help the country meet its decarbonization goals.
