Nuclear Energy as an integral part of energy sector of Bulgaria.
Throughout the history of mankind, geopolitics has played a key role in the formation of states. In 1618, the world elite made attempts to regulate and structure the world order, the Westphalian system, granting each state the right to self-determination and non-interference in the affairs of others, predetermined the role of each country in the international arena and made it possible for a certain period of time to ensure security through international law, various kinds of agreements and diplomacy. However, along with the transition to the industrial period, the foundation of the globalization process was laid, which led to the weakening of national sovereignty and provoked governments to neglect the interests of their own state in order to achieve specific goals within certain alliances. All this undermined the foundations and rules of the previously established order in the world and ultimately, backwardness and inability to adapt to new realities led to a conflict of all dimensions - the First World War. During which some states tried to defend their own interests and take a higher position on the world stage, while others at the same time pursued the goal of maintaining their hegemony in certain parts of the world and putting the once leading powers under their own control. The Versailles-Washington world order system tried to create new conditions in the international arena, however, where most of the world was still strictly controlled by a certain group of elites and countries that carried out their activities and achieved their goals through the League of Nations organization. But precisely because this structure was based on the principles of the old order, in which a number of countries still had virtually no rights in the international arena, and moreover, Germany was added to this list, in the former one of the central states playing a key role in Europe. The "new" system did not last for a proper period of time and it can be said that its end was marked by the beginning of the Second World War. After which, taking into account the mistakes already made in building a stable and secure world order, the Yalta-Post-Donetsk international system was created, which was characterized by the division of the world into two poles - the socialist, led by the USSR and the western, led by the United States. A distinctive feature of the new world was the relative freedom in choosing the countries of the periphery, which, however, was tightly controlled by the superpowers. A striking example is the Non-Aligned Movement, whose members in 1961 supported the need to maintain neutrality for further independent political and economic development. However, despite such a message from the participating countries, many States were inextricably linked to a superpower in one way or another.
The collapse of the Soviet Union marked the beginning of a unipolar world, where America assumed the role of leader and for more than 15 years steadily held this position, but with the strengthening of the role of such participants in the international arena as Russia, China and India, many experts speak about the beginning of the transformation of the system from a monopolar to a multipolar one.
All of the above proves the fact that the central powers of the world have tried to control less developed countries in various ways throughout history. There are many reasons for the so-called expansion, but the most important one is the understanding of the need for sufficient energy resources for the further development of the state. Thus, the countries of Europe have never been rich in minerals, and realizing this fact, statesmen have been trying to capture the most fruitful and rich lands since ancient times. For example, England sought to take over as many territories as possible in order to extract all the necessary resources there and then concentrate them in London, that is, it used its colonies exclusively as "donors".
In the 21st century, the situation with the need for energy resources has not changed much, and even increased. Politicians all over the world understand the necessity and importance of this aspect for the further development of their countries, and moreover, today such a term as "energy security" is becoming increasingly relevant. In order for various sectors of the economy to develop in the state, the population to freely fulfill all its vital needs and the state apparatus to pursue an independent, free policy, the country must be provided with all energy resources. Energy security is realized in the 21st century not only at the expense of the internal capabilities of the state, but also through stable partnership with regional powers. For the successful functioning of this sector, it is necessary to rationally differentiate the incoming flows of energy resources, as well as to develop ways of generating electricity within the country. Today, for those regions that are not rich in minerals, an opportunity is provided in the form of renewable energy sources (RES): WPP, SES, HPP or NPP. It is thanks to the improvement of energy infrastructure and the creation of alternative energy sources that the state can provide itself with an economically developed and secure future.
Energy security.
Throughout the history of mankind, the energy sector has been one of the key ones in the existence and development of the state. Without sufficient energy resources, it was impossible to operate any enterprises, have an army and conduct military operations, as well as carry out normal life activities of the population. Taking into account the importance of the availability and rational consumption of energy, a UN resolution was adopted in 1960, which stated the need to respect the rights of each state to dispose of its energy resources exactly as it sees fit, it is also necessary to mention the UN General Assembly resolution of 1962, which confirms the sovereign right of the people to resources and rational use they are in the interests of the state. It can be said that it was these documents that laid the foundation for the modern concept of "energobezopansot".
The energy security of the state in the 21st century has not only not lost its relevance, but has also expanded its concept and milestones of development for decades to come. So, today experts cannot come to a common point of view and derive definitions of EB, however, using various strategies for sustainable energy development and reports of the World Energy Council (MEA), it can be assumed that this concept includes. According to the MEA, energy security is the ability of the state and, as a result, the government apparatus to cover all the needs of the population in the matter of energy resources, as well as to respond in a timely and effective manner to the occurrence of any possible interruptions in the supply of electricity or fuel. There are three main concepts that are taken into account when assessing the energy development and stability of the state: energy security, accessibility and environmental sustainability. "Accessibility" refers to the ability of the state to correctly differentiate the flows of energy resources to ensure stable life of the population within the country, an equally important aspect in this direction is the pricing of fuel and electricity. The third aspect, which will play a key role in the near future, is "environmental sustainability". The trends that are being traced today show that most developed regions of the world are striving for carbon neutrality through the transformation of energy production methods. Already today, a number of countries have announced their intentions to abandon fossil resources in favor of renewable energy sources. Thus, states in which energy supply is tied to oil, methane, coal and other similar fuels may be in danger, and the population may be left without an adequate level of electricity supply. That is why it is necessary to take certain steps in advance to diversify energy production and energy consumption.
The place of nuclear power in Bulgaria and the European Union.
According to ROSATOM's "green square" scheme presented back in 2015 at the international climate conference, there are four main types of renewable energy sources that need to be addressed in the process of "green transition": wind power plants, solar power plants, hydroelectric power plants and nuclear power plants (NPP). I would like to focus specifically on nuclear power plants in the context of the Republic of Bulgaria, since according to many experts, this type of renewable energy sources is the most optimal alternative to fossil fuels.
Today, there is one operating nuclear power plant in Bulgaria, Kozloduy, designed and built back in the years of the Soviet Union. It has 2 operating nuclear reactors: No. 5 and No. 6. Blocks 1 to 4 were closed at the entrance of the European Commission of the Republic of Bulgaria and despite the fact that the government received compensation in the form of 550 million US dollars, according to analysts, the losses that followed
in this step, they exceed the allocated amount three times. Moreover, during the use of all 6 power units, the NPP provided about 45% of the total electricity consumption of the country, generating approximately 5000 MW, taking into account the fact that 4 of them were of the old type. Today, the nuclear power plant has a capacity of 2,000 MW and provides about 30% of the country's electricity production, when calculating percentages, it must be remembered that the number of factories and various enterprises has significantly decreased since 2002, which is why the disproportionate change in the share of the atom in the energy market is associated. In this context, it should be mentioned that despite the skeptical attitude of the European Commission towards nuclear energy until 2022, for a long period of time, France, a member of the European Union with a population of 67 million people, occupies a leading position in this sector. It has 56 nuclear reactors that generate 70% of the country's electricity. Also, based on information from the statistical agency Eurostat, the Republic of Bulgaria ranks only 8th in the European Union in this area, at the same time the leaders are: 1. France, 2. Germany, 3. Spain. These indicators make it clear that the above-mentioned states are probably the least dependent on fossil fuels and non-renewable energy sources, which certainly contributes to a "green" transition with the lowest financial and structural costs, and which is actively promoted by the leaders of European countries. Moreover, such a distribution of electricity production allows states to ensure a high level of energy security, which in turn has a beneficial effect on attracting foreign investment into the domestic economy, as well as increases the index of social development of the population, an example of this is any specified country in which the use of the atom is widely developed, however, it is necessary to remember about the total amount of energy consumed and the direction of its implementation.
Taking into account the pan-European trend in the development of nuclear energy, it can be concluded that in the near future the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria will need to take drastic steps to diversify sources of electricity generation and in the future energy transition, the nuclear sector should be given a central place.
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The development of nuclear energy in the Republic of Bulgaria.
As mentioned earlier, nuclear energy in Bulgaria was developed during the Soviet Union, but little has changed since then and in fact, this industry has only stagnated for a long period of time and has not been significantly modernized. One of the few attempts was the construction of a nuclear power plant near the city of Belene, which began in the late 80s of the 20th century and is still controversial. The Bulgarian government has never stated its intention to permanently stop the construction of the NPP, which is why it was obliged to pay compensation to ROSATOM's subsidiary Atomstroyexport in the amount of 600 million euros by a court order of 2016. It should be emphasized that NEC was forced to borrow this amount from the state and only 4 years later, in March 2022, the company was able to close its debt to the state. However, due to the understanding that the country and the population need an additional stable source of energy in addition to gas and fossil fuels, and also in the foreseeable future Bulgaria, as a responsible member of the European Union and the world community as a whole, will be forced to make a "green" transition towards renewable energy, statements by politicians about their intentions to develop regularly appear in the media the nuclear industry is further away.
So, on February 28, 2022, a deputy from the Socialist Party of Bulgaria stated that for a stable and sustainable energy transition of the country, it is necessary to implement the Belene NPP project in the near future, as well as modernize the existing Kozloduy NPP plant. Since the government understands the need to abandon solid fuels in the form of coal, as the most dangerous source of energy for the environment, and to comply with international standards. However, in order to close coal mines, such as Marishkia Basin, it is necessary to make changes to the statistics of types of energy sources, according to Eurostat, the countries: Germany, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Bulgaria and Romania account for 98% of the total consumption of brown coal as an energy resource for electricity and heat production. While within the EU, the atom accounts for 25%, brown coal accounts for only 8.9% of the total electricity production of the union, respectively, it can be concluded that most countries, with the exception of the six above, have already abandoned solid fuels in one way or another and are successfully building a "green" policy.
On March 3, 2022, the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Chairman of Bulatom, Bogomil Manchev, announced the government's intention to build new nuclear facilities in the near future. Greece is a possible partner in this project, but Athens is opposed to the deployment of any nuclear power plants on the territory of its country, and is also not a member of the International Energy Agency, which may entail a number of unforeseen complications during the implementation of the NPP. However, despite all the risks, Bulatom's representative confirmed his intentions and pointed out that the country has several sites already prepared for the construction of power units, namely the infamous Belene and two blocks at the Kozloduy NPP. Construction within the framework of such an alliance can lead to a number of costs in the form of a shortage of sufficiently qualified personnel for the construction of a reactor that would have experience in construction in foreign countries within the framework of international cooperation, as well as the lack of its own nuclear fuel for power units will inevitably lead to the fact that the state will need to turn to a third party to conclude supply contracts, This step will also affect the cost of an already expensive project. It is for these reasons that, when planning the construction of a nuclear power plant, it is necessary to study in detail the experience and specifics of the work, as well as take into account the list of services provided by the company in order to choose the most reliable partner.
Conclusion
Thus, throughout almost the entire history of mankind, energy resources have been the main cause of many wars and conflicts between states and nations. The 20th and 21st centuries gave mankind the opportunity to independently manage this sector, regardless of whether the country is rich in minerals or not. By investing in projects for the construction and modernization of alternative energy sources, the government provides the population with the opportunity to develop various economic sectors and carry out full-fledged life activities.
Energy security acts as a kind of basis and basis for the creation of an economically and politically strong state. A sufficient amount of cheap electricity, and no less importantly, a developed system for delivering electricity to consumers, contributes to the creation of special economic zones, which in turn is one of the key factors in attracting TNCs and international companies that, by investing in the domestic economy, contribute to the development of industries, services and the index of social development of the population.
Nuclear power plants are currently the most promising and appropriate sources of electricity within the framework of the "green" transition. Despite the variety of renewable energy sources in the form of SES, WPP or hydroelectric power plants, many of them are either highly susceptible to weather and natural conditions, which can lead to disconnection from the power grid of a small city, or due to insufficient development, there is no possibility of generating the necessary amount of electricity.
Moreover, for the successful development of renewable energy, as I mentioned earlier, it is necessary to cooperate with proven, specialized companies that have previously successfully implemented projects in their portfolios. In this aspect, ROSATOM cannot be ignored, which has been actively cooperating with various states for a long period of time and performs all contract work on time. Moreover, this company is the leader in the number of projects in its portfolio and the only one that has at its disposal a full cycle of work on the implementation and commissioning of nuclear power plants.
In conclusion, it should be said that despite the policies pursued by various unions and associations, the government of the state should first of all be guided by the interests of its own citizens and strive to ensure that its country is provided with energy security and developed infrastructure as quickly and correctly as possible.
15 FEB


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