US law firm will advise Kozloduy NPP on the new units

Kozloduy NPP - New capacities EAD concluded a legal cooperation agreement with the American law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman (Pillsbury). This happened in Washington DC, during the Bulgarian Acting Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov’s visit there. The contract was signed by Petyo Ivanov, executive director of the state-owned company tasked with implementing the project, and Vincent Zabielski, a Pillsbury partner.

Pillsbury is an international law firm with over 50 years of experience in the field of nuclear energy. It is responsible for the preparation of engineering and construction contracts, financing and licensing of new nuclear facilities. The announcement does not specify the terms of the contract and its price.

The law firm's portfolio includes comprehensive legal services for some of the most successful new nuclear capacity projects in recent years, such as the Barakah NPP in the United Arab Emirates and the Akkuyu NPP in Turkey.

The involvement of an international law firm of the rank of Pillsbury in the project will assist in the proper structuring and implementation of the project, commented Malinov.

The engagement by Kozloduy NPP - New Capacities EAD of an international legal consultant with the experience and expertise of Pillsbury is an important step towards the successful implementation of the project for the construction of the 7th and 8th units at the Kozloduy NPP site,” said the Bulgarian Minister of Energy.

He also met with Westinghouse Executive Vice President for International Markets and Chief Commercial Officer Jacques Besnainou, as well as with other representatives from the company's management. During the conversation, there was an emphasis on the need to finalize the signing of the engineering contract between Kozloduy NPP - New Capacities EAD and the consortium composed of Hyundai Engineering & Construction (South Korea) and Westinghouse Electric (USA).

We are confident that the joint work of companies of that rank is a guarantee for the implementation of the large-scale project for the construction of new capacities in our country within the set deadlines", emphasized the energy minister.

He defined the construction of Kozloduy NPP’s 7th and 8th units as strategically important not only for Bulgaria but also for the entire region of Southeast Europe in the context of achieving carbon neutrality goals.

According to him, this project will strengthen the role of Bulgaria, which has 50 years of experience in the operation of nuclear power, as a regional energy leader.

Translated by Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov