Are plans to use U.S. technology in the construction of two new reactors at Bulgaria's Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) like building mini atomic bombs because it is dangerous technology rejected by all other European countries? No, that's not true: The Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactor selected for use in the nuclear power plant is designed with numerous safety features and advanced controls to allow safe shutdown conditions, according to the U.S. manufacturer. Reactors are currently in operation in China and the U.S., and the AP1000 reactor has been contracted in Poland and Ukraine, and selected for use in Bulgaria and India.
The claim appeared in a video (archived here) on TikTok on December 18, 2023. The audio (translated from Bulgarian to English by Lead Stories staff) is:
They want to destroy Bulgaria. This nuclear reactor is called a mini atomic bomb. It is the most dangerous reactor in the world. All European countries rejected it and declared it is dangerous. Westinghouse is a bankrupt company. Will we allow genocide against our people?
This is what the post looked like on TikTok at the time of writing:
(Source: TikTok screenshot taken on Tue Dec 19 19:30:13 2023 UTC)
Bulgaria's Council of Ministers approved a Ministry of Energy report to build units 7 and 8 of the Kozloduy NPP to replace decommissioned reactors and selected the AP1000 Pressurized Water Reactors manufactured by Westinghouse for use. The new units are expected to replace the decommissioned ones to provide a reliable source of electricity for the country.
Contrary to social media posts that claim the reactor is a mini atomic bomb, the AP1000 design by Westinghouse Electric Company is a nuclear power plant that functions differently from atomic bombs. Power plants control the energy from a nuclear reaction and release it over an extended period, while atomic bombs release energy instantaneously and uncontrollably. The AP1000 is engineered with a multitude of safety features and a simple modular design that employs passive safety systems that rely on natural phenomena such as gravity and natural circulation in the event of shutdown.
According to the manufacturer, the reactor is under consideration for use by various European countries and the U.K., including the Czech Republic, and it has been contracted for use in Poland. Several reactors are in operation in China with another going online this year in the U.S.
Lead Stories has previously debunked the claim that Bulgaria was going to donate its nuclear reactors to Ukraine and ruin its energy industry.
