Visitors from across Bulgaria and abroad toured the Kozloduy nuclear plant on an open day today, the plant's press office said. Tours started at the information centre.
Visitors went inside units 5 and 6 and the full-scale simulator for the VVER-1000 reactor units, where nuclear operators train.
Plant experts gave talks, showed models and short educational films, and explained the technical processes and the daily work of staff. There were demonstrations of firefighting equipment and the mobile environmental monitoring lab, which takes real-time readings.
Staff also talked about work with local schools that offer dual training, scholarships and summer internships for students in fields key to nuclear power, as well as careers in the sector.
At the information centre, children had colouring corners with pictures of the plant, puzzles and mock surveys, and got souvenirs at the end.
The youngest visitor was a five-month-old baby from the village of Hayredin, near Vratsa, while the oldest guest was nuclear physicist Lyubomir Minev, 85, from Sofia. The plant says the trend of mostly children and young people signing up is holding steady.
The open day has been held for more than 30 years and is part of how the company works openly and talks to the public. Kozloduy plant says the event always draws strong interest, giving people reliable, expert information about how the plant runs.
On 1 October, Sofia hosted the opening of the fifth international nuclear energy conference and exhibition, "Nuclear Energy – From Ambition to Reality." There, energy minister Iva Petrova said nuclear power is a "strategic choice" for Bulgaria's energy security, competitiveness and future.
Cutting carbon emissions and rising demand for electricity raise a question, she said. It's not whether to grow nuclear power, but how to do it in the safest, most cost-effective way. BTA reported her comments.