(448.4443) WISE Amsterdam - Despite the negative experience with the Kozloduy NPP, Bulgaria appears set to proceed with the construction of a second NPP, this time in Belene, that appears to be not much better than its predecessor.
The reactors that will be installed in Belene are of the Soviet-design VVER-1000 type, which are without sufficient safety systems and are recognised worldwide as one of the most dangerous. Units 5 and 6 in Kozloduy, which are of the same type, have not been able to function beyond 34% of their total capacity.
What would happen to Belene's spent fuel is not clear, since Bulgaria has no strategy for the disposal of spent fuel. 700 tons of spent fuel are now stored in Kozloduy - with no other place to go. It is calculated that in case of an accident, the radioactivity emitted could be four times that from Chernobyl.
The ground on which the Belene plant is being built was once a marsh and is extremely unstable. Worse, the plant is in an earthquake zone. In fact, it stands right on a fault in the earth's crust. Three major earthquake centres lie close to the plant: Vrancha in Romania, Strazhitsa and Shabla in Bulgaria. On March 4, 1977, a big earthquake hit the nearest town, Svistov. The town was destroyed; 140 people died.
The river Danube flows nearby. A disaster at the reactor would certainly destroy the Danube's eco-systems. The normal operation will upset its thermal balance.
A chemical plant is located in the vicinity. The consequences to the NPP of a possible gas leak cannot be predicted. Before the Belene can start operating, a safety zone - a radius of 4-7 km - will have to be ensured. This means that the local people will be forced to leave their land, a land that has been famous for centuries for its fertility. The region's wine is one of the main exports of the country, recognised worldwide for its high quality.
The electricity that Belene will generate is mainly for export. Bulgaria has 12,000 MW installed capacity and its peak consumption in winter does not exceed 7,000 MW. The construction of the first reactor was started in the mid eighties despite a negative Environmental Impact Assessment and the lack of a license for the site. Due to local protests, construction was halted in 1990.
The first reactor is now half-finished. Thus far, the cost of construction has amounted to US$1.2 billion. To finish the reactor, at least $1.3 billion more is needed. This means more borrowing for a country that already has a $12 billion foreign debt. The loans are expected to come from the countries which are the prospective buyers of the electricity to be generated by Belene. For the spent fuel that will be produced during the 30-year life span of this reactor US$1.2 billion will be needed. Taking that into account, "Electricite de France" has said definite "no" to the further construction of Belene because it will not meet the least-cost-option test.
Bulgaria's use of energy is extremely inefficient. On a per capita basis, Bulgarians consume 5.479 KWH per person per year - about 20% more electricity than the average in European OECD-countries. Reducing consumption levels through the efficient use of electricity while raising energy service quality should become the number one priority of Bulgaria's energy policy. This is crucial for the shutdown of dangerous nuclear plant and grossly polluting thermal stations to be realised. The EC's PHARE office in Bulgaria has concluded that the 'potential savings resulting from very simple measures like the improvement of management and maintenance with little or no investment could cut electricity and heat use by 10-12%'. This is equivalent to nearly 4 KWH in all sectors including industry. Approaching 60% of the Kozloduy output is potentially available through energy savings at little or no cost.
Sources: For the Earth, march 1996; Greenpeace, October 1995, "Kozloduy: a risk too far?"
More information and contacts: Za Zemyata (For the Earth) Parchevich Street 30, Sofia 1000, Bulgaria. Tel: +359-2-880107; Fax: +359-2-819290.
E-mail: ftearth@bulnet.bg
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