European cooperation under the modernization program of the Kozloduy NPP units 5 and 6 and its evolution during the Belene NPP construction

The major part of the modernization program for the Kozloduy NPP units 5 and 6 is being performed by the European Consortium Kozloduy (ECK), consisting of AREVA - FRAMATOME ANP (Germany and France) and Atomenergoexport (Russia). The ECK main project, consisting of 76 separate measures, shall be finished in the first half of 2006. One of the major tasks was to form the different teams on contractors and employers side such that the works can be executed effectively in a timely manner and as per the technical and quality requirements. Different actions were undertaken on both sides in order to assure the main target, namely to implement the complete scope of work within the contractual time schedule. So far it can be reported that the teams have successfully worked and as a matter of fact at present more than 100 outage days have been saved compared to the initial contractual time schedule. This important result is based on different success factors in the field of planning, engineering and design, outage organization, implementation including testing and commissioning, quality assurance. After the decision of Bulgaria to continue the erection of Belene NPP, a bidding consortium has been founded by the ECK Consortium members, in order to provide a joint offer for this project. The good reputation, expertise and the experience gained from the Kozloduy NPP units 5 and 6 modernization project together with a reliable network with Bulgarian industrial partners may contribute the utmost to a successful finalization of the Belene NPP. (author)