Bulgaria will keep nuclear energy and coal-fired reserves at the centre of its power system while expanding storage, gas infrastructure and renewable generation under a new energy programme covering 2026-2030.
The strategy maintains a diversified generation portfolio consisting of nuclear, coal, natural gas, hydropower and renewables, backed by batteries and stronger transmission infrastructure.
Bulgaria intends to extend the operation of Kozloduy units 5 and 6 while pursuing units 7 and 8 based on AP1000 technology.
Small modular reactors will also remain under consideration.
Coal-fired power stations would not disappear immediately from the system. Selected capacity would instead be retained as a strategic reserve for peak demand and emergency conditions.
That approach reflects the increasingly visible value of dispatchable capacity during periods when drought, nuclear outages or weak renewable generation tighten regional supply.
Bulgaria also plans to expand the Chiren underground gas storage facility to 1 billion cubic metres, strengthening its ability to manage seasonal supply fluctuations.
New pumped-storage hydro projects are another priority.
The strategy reinforces Sofia’s ambition to position Bulgaria as an energy hub between Greece, Turkey, Romania, Serbia and Central Europe.
That role is becoming increasingly relevant as LNG moves north from Greek terminals, renewable electricity moves across borders and batteries in Bulgaria absorb surplus solar generation produced elsewhere in Southeast Europe.
