Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund

As Bulgaria pursued EU membership, it committed to shutting down the first four units of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant (KNPP) due to safety concerns and incompatibility with modern European standards. These Soviet-designed VVER 440-230 type-reactors were deemed economically unfeasible to upgrade.

To aid Bulgaria in this process, EBRD established the Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund (KIDSF) in June 2001 with the support of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the European Union, France, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. An additional contribution was received from Ireland. As of end-2023, the fund received contributions for over €1.2 billion.

KIDSF supports two main objectives:

1. Safely decommissioning KNPP Units 1-4 by 2030, aiming for a "brown field" end state.
2. Addressing the impact of KNPP Units 1-4 closure on Bulgaria's energy sector.

Decommissioning Programme:

• The Dry Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility, operational since January 2016, which stores spent fuel for over 50 years.
• The Plasma Melting Facility, commissioned in 2018, which reduces the volume of and treats radioactive waste.
• Dismantling, waste management, and construction of a national disposal facility.

Energy Sector Programme:

• Rehabilitation of district heating networks and municipal street lighting, introduction of new electricity meters, and energy efficiency improvements in public buildings.
• Environmental and efficiency upgrades at thermal power plants and coal mines, rehabilitation of hydro power plants, and support for residential gasification.
• Construction of high-pressure gas transmission pipelines and the Belmeken-Sestrimo-Momina Klisura (BSMK) Cascade, enhancing renewable energy integration.

These initiatives have resulted in significant energy savings and emissions reductions. Benefits extend to improved conditions in public buildings and households throughout Bulgaria.

KIDSF's focus is now solely on the Decommissioning Programme, with no further energy sector projects planned.