The EPP's declaration regarding the Green Deal is a kind of recognition that fossil fuel-based energy was incorrectly treated with emission quotas and most likely there will be a return to common sense, in which priority will be given in the coming years to electricity produced from coal and especially from gas.
This is what the nuclear physicist Prof. told FOCUS. Georgi Kaschiev, former chairman of the Committee for the Use of Atomic Energy for Peaceful Purposes, worked at the Institute for Risk Research at the University of Vienna, scientific supervisor for the launch of the 5th unit of the "Kozloduy" NPP.
The development of the cheapest electricity, nuclear energy, in Bulgaria is a complex and difficult process and does not have good prospects. In the "Kozloduy" NPP, according to him, by a decision of the parliament, without holding a tender, the most expensive possible project implemented so far in the world was selected, with the initial costs already exceeding 36 billion dollars.
According to Prof. Kaschiev, the construction of the Belene NPP is now impossible, since, according to him, a deal with Ukraine for the sale of the equipment, supported by a decision of the parliament, is becoming increasingly likely, but even if it is not sold, the existing situation of war in Ukraine, as well as relations with Russia, make it impossible for Russian companies to participate in this project, and without them it can hardly be implemented. "Thirdly, I don't see who will allocate funding for the construction of new Russian reactors in Europe. That's why I think it's impossible."
Regarding the small modular reactors that have been talked about for years, they have not yet reached practical application, the expert pointed out and added that the American experience in this direction has shown their unprofitability in terms of invested funds. "Rather, I see a much greater probability of developing medium-power reactors, such as those designed by the English Rolls-Royce for 470 megawatts, as well as General Electric with Toshiba for 300 megawatts. It seems to me that they will find application much faster.“
For the liberalization of the electricity market in our country, several steps need to be taken, the first of which, according to Prof. Kaschiev, is to adopt a definition of energy poverty in order to regulate their support, and then to conduct an information campaign on how to buy electricity in the conditions of a liberalized market. "There will inevitably be an increase in the price of electricity simply because there is no longer cheap electricity from anywhere. There will inevitably be a significant increase in the price of electricity.“