Interviewed in connection with a recent visit by Ukrainian energy experts to Bulgaria, Denys Didyk, co-founder of the Anti-crisis Expert Nuclear Centre of Ukraine, tells Bulgaria's Capital weekly that his country has unique experience in converting Soviet-designed nuclear reactors to run on US nuclear fuel. Didyk says that, as far as he can tell, the participation of France's Framatome alongside frontrunner Westinghouse of the US in a competitive bidding procedure to supply non-Russian nuclear fuel for Bulgaria's Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant is just a formality, because there is a requirement that at least two bidders should take part. Still, he welcomed the procedure as a way to diversify nuclear fuel supplies.
According to Didyk, the transition from Russian to US nuclear fuel in Ukraine began in 2000, and the industrial use of US fuel started in 2014-2015. Attempts to sabotage the process were made all the time and continue to be made even now. "At the trial stage, there was a group of people who were pro-Russian. After struggling hard against them, we managed to achieve 50% diversification," Didyk says.
Asked which EU member states are beginning a transition to US nuclear fuel by using Ukrainian experience, Didyk says: "Finland and Czechia have given up on Russian reactors. They are using our experience. This is scientific and technological information exchange, scientific and technological interaction, we have special organizations which provide such information. We refrain from commenting on the state of play of such negotiations. This is part of the information hygiene we maintain on account of Russia's military aggression. Any misstep can be harmful."
Taking a question about whether the visits of Ukrainian experts at various levels mean that Kyiv is helping Bulgaria switch to US nuclear fuel, Didyk says: "I know that colleagues are coming here for more productive dialogue. One of the companies is Kyiv Energoproject, which designs nuclear capacities and works on the design stage of upgrading nuclear reactors, safety systems and physical protection systems, including for the purpose of extending their service life. As far as I know, the Bulgarian side has considered the matter, which implies sharing information on the scientific and technological level. The Ukrainian side is always ready to provide such possibilities, to share its expertise. In addition, Ukraine has experience in manufacturing spare parts."
Asked whether the negotiations with Bulgaria have moved beyond the expert level, Didyk says the talks have involved mainly Kyiv Energoproject, Ukraine's leader in designing and implementing comprehensive nuclear security upgrades and designing nuclear power plants. One of the company's main lines of business is extending the service life of nuclear power plants, he adds.
Then, the interviewer asks whether Sofia has formally asked Kyiv to supply spare parts for the Kozloduy N-plant, given the apparent readiness of Ukrainian companies to offer gradual partial replacement of Soviet- and Russian-made components. Didyk replies: "We are at the level of negotiations right now. We can offer a whole range of things. For instance, Kozloduy is working to extend the service life of its rector units. There is also the design of security systems, the design of projects for comprehensive upgrading of the reactor units, etc." The expert further notes that Ukraine has experience in manufacturing diesel generators for nuclear power plants. According to him, such generators have proven essential in all sorts of emergencies.
"At the same time, there is equipment and experience that Bulgaria can provide to Ukraine in the field of nuclear energy," he says.
/VE/
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