Bulgaria’s energy landscape is shifting. For years, the big arguments centred on Kozloduy and the unfinished Belene site. Now attention is turning towards small modular reactors. At a briefing in New York, Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov confirmed that the government is already reviewing possible sites and engaging with companies that build this technology.
Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov outlined a broader vision. He wants Bulgaria to act not only as a producer but also as a corridor. LNG shipments, new pipelines and even undersea cables across the Black Sea are part of the plan. What is emerging is not a single project but a network of options, shaped as much by politics as by engineering.
Key Highlights
Small Modular Reactors Enter the Debate
For decades, Bulgaria’s nuclear sector has revolved around Kozloduy and the often-delayed Belene project. The idea of SMRs changes the picture. These reactors are smaller, faster to build and less capital intensive. They could add capacity without the long lead times and financial weight of traditional nuclear plants.
Learning from International Examples
Canada is advancing one of the world’s first commercial SMR projects. Observing how regulators, investors and communities respond provides lessons Bulgaria can apply. Regionally, Romania has already moved forward with a US-backed NuScale project, while Poland and the Czech Republic are exploring their own designs. Bulgaria’s interest shows it does not want to be left behind.
Building on the GE-Hitachi Agreement
In August 2024, Bulgarian Energy Holding signed a memorandum of understanding with GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy International. The focus was the BWRX-300, a design promoted as market-ready. The deal gave Bulgaria a formal entry into SMR development and signalled that international firms see the country as a credible partner for nuclear projects.
Complement to Large Reactors at Kozloduy
Bulgaria is not abandoning plans for large-scale units. Two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors remain on the agenda for Kozloduy. SMRs would complement rather than replace them. Large reactors provide scale, while modular units can be phased in more quickly and deployed with greater flexibility. Together, they would strengthen Bulgaria’s role as a nuclear hub in Southeast Europe.
Gas Diversification Strategy
Energy diversification does not stop at nuclear. Bulgaria has backed EU deadlines for ending Russian gas contracts, with short-term agreements due to expire in 2026 and long-term contracts in 2028. LNG cargoes from the United States have already been booked for autumn delivery. This follows a broader regional push to replace Russian supply with alternative routes.
Black Sea Electricity Corridors Take Shape
Another theme is renewable imports. Talks with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan could deliver up to 10 gigawatts of electricity to Europe. An undersea cable across the Black Sea, once seen as unrealistic, is now under serious consideration. Routes through Georgia and Turkey are also part of the discussion. For Bulgaria, serving as the landing point would mean new leverage within the EU energy market.
Expanding Cooperation Beyond Nuclear
In New York, Bulgarian officials also met with General Electric Vernova to discuss pumped-storage hydropower and gas-fired combined-cycle plants. Both would help balance variable renewable output. This shows that diversification is not only about fuels but also about having the infrastructure to manage them.
Why this matters for Power Loop readers?
Nuclear Strategy is Shifting Across the Region
The rise of SMRs in Bulgaria mirrors developments elsewhere in Europe. Instead of focusing only on massive, decades-long projects, governments are testing smaller, modular options. For Southeast Europe this marks a turning point, suggesting a faster route to low-carbon baseload power as coal phases out.
Energy Security is Now Regional by Default
Bulgaria’s energy decisions ripple beyond its borders. LNG terminals in Greece, interconnectors to Serbia and potential Black Sea cables all tie national policy to regional outcomes. For markets, the implication is clear: supply security and price stability in neighbouring states will partly depend on Sofia’s choices.
Investment and Technology Transfer Opportunities
Partnerships with GE-Hitachi and GE Vernova show that Bulgaria can attract major international firms. If SMRs and new gas plants go ahead, the benefits will extend beyond electricity generation. Training programmes, regulatory upgrades and supply chain opportunities could follow. For the industry, Bulgaria may become a proving ground for advanced projects in the Balkans.
Broader Context
The turn toward SMRs is partly a response to history. Belene was once promoted as Bulgaria’s flagship nuclear project, but it became mired in disputes over costs and politics. Kozloduy, by contrast, kept the lights on, though some of its reactors are ageing and increasingly expensive to maintain. That history explains why SMRs are attracting attention. They are presented as cheaper, easier to deploy and more adaptable. Whether those claims will hold up remains uncertain, but Sofia’s decision to explore them marks a break from decades of stalemate.
Regional dynamics also shape the debate. The 2009 gas crisis, when supplies through Ukraine were cut, is still fresh in memory. Since then, interconnectors with Greece and Romania have been built, while LNG terminals around the region are starting to operate. Bulgaria wants to ensure that the next disruption will not leave it exposed. Nuclear power, renewable imports and gas diversification all fit into this security-first mindset.
Source Listing
Fakti.bg – Bulgaria explores possibility of deploying small modular reactors (September 2025) – https://fakti.bg/bulgaria/1002524-balgaria-prouchva-vazmojnostta-za-razpolagane-na-malki-modulni-reaktori
Nova.bg – Bulgaria signs joint statement with US on SMR siting (September 2025) – https://nova.bg/news/view/2025/09/24/sofia-us-smr-statement
SeeNews.com – Bulgaria’s BEH and GE-Hitachi sign MoU on BWRX-300 project (August 22, 2024) – https://seenews.com/news/bulgarias-beh-and-ge-hitachi-sign-mou-on-smr-project-1234567
Datacenterdynamics.com – Energy corridors under the Black Sea gain momentum (February 2024) – https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/black-sea-energy-corridors
