On April 10-11, 2025, the Fourth International Nuclear Conference under the title “Small Modular Reactors and Modern Nuclear Technologies for Industrial Applications“ will be held in Sofia. The event, organized under the patronage of the Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov, brought together representatives of European and national institutions, business, industry, regulators, the non-governmental sector and the scientific community for a strategic dialogue on the role of nuclear energy and small modular reactor technology in the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Within the panel “EU and institutional policies for the application of small modular reactor (SMR) technology“ MEP Tsvetelina Penkova, President of the European Energy Forum and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy in the European Parliament, stressed that nuclear energy is a strategic choice on which Europe's energy security and economic stability depend. According to her, if we want to guarantee a reliable electricity supply and reduce price pressure on households and industry, nuclear energy is indispensable.
Penkova emphasized the importance of small modular reactors: “They should not be perceived as a replacement for large nuclear power plants, but as a complement to them.“ At the same time, experts were unanimous that this technology has not yet reached the stage of commercial implementation and its development should go in parallel with investments in proven large nuclear capacities.
Tsvetelina Penkova stated that Bulgaria has a leading role in the development of nuclear energy in the EU: “Bulgaria has experience, expertise and public support – and now also the opportunity to build a balanced energy portfolio, in which large reactors provide stability, and “SMR“ technologies – flexibility in the energy system.“
At the European level, concrete steps are already being taken to support nuclear energy. Among them are the recognition of nuclear energy as green and strategic, the creation of the European Nuclear Energy Alliance, steps have been taken to stimulate a European industry for the production of components necessary for the maintenance and construction of nuclear capacities, harmonization of licensing procedures and acceleration of investment processes, as well as the development of human resources and scientific infrastructure. “Bulgaria has a real chance to be a nuclear leader in the region. We have traditions, expertise and public support.“, added Penkova.
Among the participants in the conference, Gianfranco Brunetti, Head of the “Nuclear Energy, Waste and Decommissioning“ Department at the “Energy“ Directorate General stood out; of the European Commission, Enguerrand Ducène, Vice President of “Westinghouse Electric Company”.
The conference was organized by “BULATOM“, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria and Dr. Ivan Hinovski, Chairman of the Bulgarian Energy and Mining Forum, who through the event created an important platform for dialogue on key issues concerning the future of nuclear energy in Bulgaria, Europe and the world.
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