Bulgaria and Japan: Strategic Partnership in Energy and Innovation

During an official meeting with high-ranking Japanese representatives, led by Parliamentary Deputy Minister Akioshi Kato, Bulgarian energy experts discussed extensive prospects for bilateral cooperation. The delegation included leadership from leading technology corporations such as "Toshiba", "Mitsubishi", "Hitachi" and others who show serious interest in the Bulgarian market.

Minister Zhecho Stankov emphasized the dynamic development of bilateral relations, pointing out specific achievements in the energy sector. These include contracts signed in January 2025 with "Toshiba" and the "Voith ABB" consortium for modernization of hydropower facilities. The planned restoration of units at Chaira Pumped Storage Power Plant will provide an additional 600 megawatts of capacity for the national electricity system.

Strategic discussions covered multiple ambitious projects. The Bulgarian side presented plans to build four new pumped storage power plants, each with a capacity of 800 megawatts and a total storage capacity of over 60,000 MWh. Japanese partners showed exceptional interest in such infrastructure initiatives.

Nuclear energy was another key focus of the negotiations. Both countries demonstrate a similar approach to sector development. Bulgaria plans to expand capacities at Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant by building seventh and eighth blocks with modern AP 1000 technology, while Japan considers restarting blocks at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa Nuclear Power Plant.

Additional cooperation potential was identified in the field of green hydrogen. Bulgaria has exceptional climatic conditions – between 1,400 and 1,800 sunshine hours annually, making it an attractive location for low-carbon technologies.

The Japanese delegation showed particular interest in Bulgarian projects in power distribution networks, digital infrastructure, and creation of high-tech centers. Discussions included potential joint initiatives for building gigafactories and modern data centers.

Minister Stankov described the meeting as extremely successful, emphasizing the mutual complementarity of Bulgarian capabilities and Japanese technological competencies. "This is a solid foundation for future strategic partnerships," he stated.

The official visit will continue with a bilateral business forum dedicated to infrastructure, energy, and digitalization, which will provide additional opportunities to deepen economic cooperation between the two countries.