Kozloduy NPP-New Builds PLC and the predominantly Canadian consortium LEP-BWXT-CNPSA (Laurentis Energy Partners, its subsidiary Canadian Nuclear Partners S.A. and BWX Technologies) signed an engineering consultancy agreement for the construction of Kozloduy NPP Units 7 and 8 at the Council of Ministers in Sofia on Tuesday.

The document was signed in the presence of Bulgaria’s Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov, Ontario’s Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce, Canada’s Ambassador to Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova Gavin Buchan, US Embassy Charge d’Affaires Martin McDowell and other representatives of the energy and business sectors.

The consortium of leading international companies will support the Bulgarian side in exercising investor oversight and monitoring processes related to the design, procurement, construction and commissioning of the new nuclear units at Kozloduy NPP, including initial engineering activities, the Energy Ministry said.

The construction of Units 7 and 8 at Kozloduy NPP is a key factor in ensuring Bulgaria’s energy security. The project is of strategic importance for the country and for the wider Southeast European region.

Kozloduy NPP-New Builds Executive Director Petyo Ivanov said that hiring a consultant is a crucial step for the successful implementation of a nuclear project, following Tuesday’s signing of an engineering consultancy agreement with the predominantly Canadian consortium LEP-BWXT-CNPSA.

Ivanov said: “With the signing of the agreement, we are marking another important step in the development of the new nuclear units at Kozloduy NPP.” According to him, having a technical consultant performing oversight activities provides significant security for the project’s owner.

“For us, it is important that we chose this Canadian consortium, as it has extensive experience in implementing nuclear projects both in Canada and abroad. They are one of the few companies that can boast of completing nuclear projects on time and within the planned budget,” he said.

It is expected that at least 30% of the work will be carried out by Bulgarian companies or specialist engineers.

Regarding the project’s progress, Ivanov said there had been significant advancement and that procedures are on schedule, noting that this week an application for the approval of the Unit 8 site will be submitted to the Nuclear Regulatory Agency.