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The closure of units 1-4 of Kozloduy NPP will not affect negatively the electricity consumption in Bulgaria, because:

1. The gross installed generic capacity in Bulgaria is 13257 MW and the maximum electricity consumption during the winter season is not more than 7500 MW.
2. Bulgarian industry still occupies one of the leading places in the world in the inefficient and unwise use of energy and electricity.
3. The household and public sectors have a huge potential to decrease the electricity consumption.  Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, biomass, and small hydro-power plants must be widely introduced.  Gasification can be implemented with minor investments.
4. Implementation of energy efficiency measures in the field of industry are feasible and should be subsidized by the government.
5. Basic TTPs should be rehabilitated.  Maritza-East 1, 2 and 3 are among them.  The process of rehabilitation has already started in Maritza-East 1 and 3 TTPs, while new 600 MW capacities will be build in Maritza-East 3 TTP.
6. A number of district heating power plants need to be rehabilitated and converted to combined heat and power cycle.  For some of them (in Sofia and Pernik) foreign donors such as the World Bank have introduced concrete projects which are only awaiting to receive state guarantees.

These options urgently need a well-structured and transparent legislation, economic and financial incentives and a support for non-standard innovative solutions.

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On 18 April 2000 the European Commission has approved to issue an Euroatom loan over 212 million EURO for modernization of Kozloduy units 5 and 6. This loan represents an enormous burden for the Bulgarian future generation taxpayers and has been approved although:

• the modernization project, that Kozloduy NPP presented when applying for the loan,  does not include the most urgent and necessary measures for the upgrade of the units 5 and 6; 
• the modernization project consists of unrealistic timetables and vague costs for the measures;
• the envisaged modernization does not also reach internationally accepted safety standards;
• an Environmental Impact Assessment of the project was not carried out so far;
• a public participation was not conducted.