On May 21, Bulatom representatives: Mr. Bogomil Manchev – Chairman of the Management Board, Mr. Stanislav Georgiev – Executive Secretary and Mr. Petar Manchev – Member of the Management Board took part in two working meetings at the European Parliament.
In the Parliament building, with the assistance and participation of Ms. Tsvetelina Penkova, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and Vice-Chair of the Nuclear Energy Support Group in the EP, the annual meeting of BULATOM with Bulgarian MEPs was held.
The main purpose of the meeting was for Bulatom to acquaint the Bulgarian MEPs with its updated position on the need to preserve the long-term role of nuclear energy as a base power, guaranteeing a stable energy mix for Bulgaria and to lobby for their support for the development of nuclear energy not only in Bulgaria, but also in Europe.
At the meeting, Mr. Bogomil Manchev told the attendees that: “Bulgaria needs to build 4 new nuclear reactors in order to maintain the stability of our energy system. We need basic energy to cover about 25% of our consumption, so that we do not fall into unnecessary risk situations” He also used the occasion to emphasize again that “it is extremely imperative to develop and adopt a long-term energy strategy of our country, which will determine the prospects for the development of the electricity sector in a sufficiently long period, including in the period after 2050.”
In the same building, a key discussion was held dedicated to the construction of an independent European supply chain for nuclear technologies. The host of the event was the Bulgarian MEP Tsvetelina Penkova.
At the opening of the event, Ms. Tsvetelina Penkova highlighted nuclear energy as a strategically important element of Europe’s energy and industrial stability. In her speech, she stressed that “nuclear energy is critically important to achieve a balanced energy mix and long-term low electricity prices.” In her words, “the European Union cannot afford to exclude any clean technology, because European industry needs cheap energy to be competitive on global markets”.
On behalf of Bulatom, Mr. Petar Manchev welcomed the attendees and introduced them to the position and priorities of the association in order to support the development of nuclear energy in Bulgaria and Europe.
The event brought together representatives of leading nuclear companies and organizations – among them BULATOM, Électricité de France (EDF), Fortum, Orano, Urenco, as well as representatives of the European Commission from the Directorates-General for Energy, Research and Internal Market. The debate was also attended by MEP Christoph Grüdler, President of the Nuclear Energy Support Group, who shared his vision on the political support in the current mandate and the need for a realistic, pragmatic and science-based approach to nuclear energy.
Bulatom expresses its gratitude to Ms. Tsvetelina Penkova for her support and assistance in organizing the annual meeting with the Bulgarian MEPs, as well as for the invitation to participate in the workshop organized by her on the topic: ” Building domestic EU supply chain for nuclear energy – challenges and opportunities ahead“.