On behalf of the Association for the Renaissance of Craiova (ARC), on the planned extension of the operation of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria 

The petitioner opposes the plans to extend the operation permit of reactors 5 and 6 of the Kozloduy nuclear power plant located in Bulgaria near the Romanian border. He calls for the resumption of the transboundary impact assessment for a landfill as well as for the extension of the operating life of two reactors, thus respecting citizens’ right to information and consultation as provided for in Article 6 of the Aarhus Convention. The petitioner argues that 23 communities in Romania, including the city of Craiova, are located in the nuclear risk area and directly affected by the Kozloduy activities. He claims that the consultation and information of the Romanian population were poorly organised, not allowing real participation nor taking into account the opposition of the public in the final decision. According to the petitioner, the Romanian authorities expressed their willingness to carry out an environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context, but Bulgaria decided to grant the licence unilaterally.