Stress Test Results of Bulgarian Nuclear Plant Up for Public Discussion

The Kozloduy NPP is highly resistant to potential disasters and breakdowns, according to the results of the stress tests of the N-plant.

The stress tests of the nuclear power plant were presented at a public discussion in the northwestern Bulgarian town of Kozloduy.

According to the data, a major factor for the N-plant's safety is the location of the plant in an area of low seismic activity and at a sufficient height to prevent flooding.

According to Bulgaria's national report on the stress test of the Kozloduy NPP, the facilities at the plant have 60 to 80% reserve of earthquake resistance, calculated for an earthquake which might occur no more than once in a million reactor years.

A flood at the Kozloduy NPPs is only possible if the waters of the Danube River reach critical levels, which coincides with a rupture in the walls of the two nearby water supply systems.

The facilities at the Kozloduy NPP have also been evaluated as resistant high winds and heavy rains.

In the case of a potential earthquake or a power outage, the Kozloduy NPP can rely on mobile diesel generators.

In the course of Thursday's discussion, the participants also presented the report of the inspection of the N-plant in Kozloduy conducted by the European Commission.

The report concludes that the Kozloduy NPP meets safety standards to a large extent.

According to the Bulgarian anti-nuclear coalition, however, the report contains numerous warnings.

Petar Penchev from the anti-nuclear organization insisted that the inspection had not taken into account the dangerous release of radioactive particles.

He also argued that the methodology of evaluation had also failed to take into consideration the extension of the reactors' lifetime and the increase of capacities.

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