Arlington, VA – Today, U.S. Trade and Development Agency Director Enoh T. Ebong signed a technical assistance grant with state-owned Bulgaria Energy Holding EAD (BEH) to accelerate the deployment of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plant technology and advance the country’s energy security and clean energy goals. Specifically, USTDA’s assistance will present BEH with a detailed technical analysis of U.S.-sourced SMR design options to support its planned deployment of one or more SMR nuclear power plants.
“The collaboration between USTDA and BEH will support Bulgaria’s interest in specific U.S. SMR technologies as it plans the expansion of its nuclear capabilities,” said Director Ebong. “Our assistance will support Bulgaria’s goal of remaining a regional leader in electricity production while supporting international decarbonization efforts.”
In addition to providing detailed technical analysis, USTDA’s assistance will also examine potential sites for BEH’s planned SMR power plants and develop a roadmap outlining a path to implementation, including an approach to securing financing.
Bulgaria has invested in nuclear energy for more than 50 years and aims to use new SMR technology to increase energy security while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from government activities. The technical assistance follows on a decades-long history of USTDA support for nuclear energy in Bulgaria, including studies in the 1990s that helped deploy U.S. technologies to strengthen the reliability and safety of the Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant.
“Today’s signing of this agreement for a prefeasibility study is in continuation of the strategic partnership between the Bulgarian Government and the United States,” said Bulgarian Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov. “USTDA’s study will be crucial for the application of the new SMR energy technology in Bulgaria.”
“Bulgaria is on the path to becoming a leader in the green energy field and a provider of safe, reliable power for the entire region. This important study is poised to contribute significantly to achieving both those goals by introducing state-of-the-art small modular reactor technology to Bulgaria’s current and future energy mix, said U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria Kenneth Merten.
This technical assistance is the latest addition to USTDA’s portfolio of nuclear energy-related activities, including project preparation in Indonesia, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine, and a workshop series for civil nuclear energy leaders from nearly 20 countries in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.
U.S. businesses interested in submitting proposals for the USTDA-funded technical assistance should visit www.ustda.gov/work/bid-on-an-overseas-project.
This grant supports the European Energy Security and Diversification Act of 2019, which prioritizes assistance to develop energy infrastructure in Europe and Eurasia, and the 2024 U.S.-Bulgaria Intergovernmental Agreement outlining cooperation on the development of Bulgaria’s civil nuclear power program.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | press@ustda.gov