Nuclear reactors in Bulgaria and Slovakia - EU decommissioning aid

When negotiating to join the EU, Bulgaria and Slovakia undertook to close down nuclear power plants similar to Chernobyl by an agreed date. The EU agreed to help these countries cover the high costs of the decommissioning (*) process.

ACT

Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1368/2013 of 13 December 2013 on Union support for the nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes in Bulgaria and Slovakia, and repealing Regulations (Euratom) No 549/2007 and (Euratom) No 647/2010.

SUMMARY

WHAT DOES THIS REGULATION DO?

It describes the EU's programme of financial support for aspects of the decommissioning of units 1 to 4 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria and units 1 and 2 of the Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant in Slovakia.

KEY POINTS

Specific objectives of the programmes:

Kozloduy:

• dismantling in the turbine halls of units 1 to 4 and in auxiliary buildings;
• dismantling of large components and equipment in the reactor buildings of units 1 to 4;
• safely managing the waste from decommissioning.

Bohunice:

• dismantling of the turbine hall and auxiliary buildings of reactor V1;
• dismantling of large components and equipment in the V1 reactor buildings;
• safely managing the waste from decommissioning in accordance with a detailed waste management plan.

Both programmes also include measures to maintain a high level of safety at the units under decommissioning, including that of their staff.

Joint annual work programmes

Each year from 2014 to 2020, the European Commission adopts a joint annual work programme for Kozloduy and Bohunice specifying, in each case, the objectives, expected results, performance indicators and the timeline for the use of funds.

In order to achieve their objectives, precise indicators have been defined for both programmes to apply and verify.

Budget

The EU is to make the following contributions to this programme:

• €293,032,000 for the Kozloduy programme;
• €225,410,000 for the Bohunice programme.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

From 1 January 2014. It repeals Council Regulations (Euratom) No 549/2007 and (Euratom) No 647/2010 from that date.

KEY TERM

Decommissioning: this is the final stage of the lifecycle of a nuclear installation such as a power plant or research reactor. It includes everything from shutting down the installation and removing nuclear material to restoring the environment at and around the site. The process can take up to 30 years.

For further information, see the European Commission's webpage on the decommissioning of nuclear facilities.

last update 17.03.2015