Bulgaria’s Kozloduy nuclear power plant will again reduce output from its 1,000-MW unit 5 as persistently low Danube water levels constrain operations. The adjustment limits availability of one of the region’s main baseload generators. The reactor is expected to lower output by about 60 MW.
The planned reduction is set to reverse part of the capacity restored at the end of August. Unit 5 had returned to around 950 MW on August 31 after river conditions briefly improved. Earlier, the plant cut the reactor’s output by about 120 MW on August 21 as a precaution related to low water levels.
Hydrological constraint and generation matching
Kozloduy said the adjustments are intended to maintain safe operations while matching generation to local hydrological conditions. The renewed cut indicates that the late-August improvement was not sufficient to remove the constraint. Continued reductions could tighten Bulgaria’s export capacity.
The same hydrological situation could also increase regional dependence on thermal generation during evening demand peaks. Unit 6, also rated at 1,000 MW, is expected to remain broadly in line with the production plan. Its output has nevertheless been reduced slightly in recent weeks.
Unit 6 performance and recent output
Gross generation from the plant stood at around 983 MW on September 14. Unit 5’s latest change follows earlier steps taken during periods of low Danube levels. The company’s operational adjustments continue to reflect constraints tied to river conditions.
