In 2023, the Bulgarian Kozloduy nuclear power plant will operate at a reduced capacity due to the overhaul of two units, which will last a total of 70 days. Also, TPP Marica Istok 2 is undergoing overhaul, and for a significantly longer period, while HPP Chaira will be offline for the whole year.
The overhaul of the fifth unit of the Bulgarian nuclear plant is scheduled for April 22, while the overhaul of the sixth unit will begin on September 23. Each of the two repairs will last 35 days, according to the schedule of the Electricity System Operator (ESO).
Regular planned overhauls are extremely important for the reliable and safe operation of power plants, but in this case they clash with the sensitive situation in the energy sector, when the suspension of certain capacities, even for a short time, can lead to shortages of electricity, and therefore to an increase price on the free market.
The state thermal power plant Marica Istok 2 also has scheduled overhauls throughout 2023. Units 5, 6, 7 and 8 will be overhauled for a total of 245 days, with work starting already in May, and activities on aggregates 1, 2, 3 and 4 will last a little longer – 251 days, also according to ESO’s schedule. However, in the event of a production shortfall, repairs could be delayed for a short time, but not completely canceled. The main months for overhaul of Maritsa East 2 units are the spring and summer month. Also the TPP AES and TPP ContourGlobal Maritsa East 3 will repair their units roughly in the same period.
HPP Chaira is also on the schedule of ESO, whose hydro units (1, 2, 3 and 4) are going through “extended rehabilitation after the accident”, which will last a year. At the end of March 2022, a heavy accident blocked the plant – one of the turbines was damaged during the testing of the facility. Several months later – in November, acting Minister of Energy Rosen Hristov announced that the complete rehabilitation of Chaira will cost around one billion euros.
The complete schedule of planned overhauls is published by ESO:
Sources: Serbia Energy, ESO