The “engineering services contract” was signed in Warsaw on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
In attendance was Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, who said it was “a great day for nuclear energy.”
The prime minister stressed: “Nuclear power is the only clean, stable source of energy that is technologically proven and verified to be safe. Today Poland is opening a new chapter in nuclear energy.”
Morawiecki added: “At a time of geopolitical turmoil cooperation in the building of this power plant is fundamental. Today we are talking not only about energy security and the latest technologies, but also about security in the broad sense of the word.”
The prime minister also stated that Poland was basing its security on three pillars, energy security, close ties and economic cooperation with the United States and military security.
He stressed: “In all these three respects, Poland and the United States are working together hand in hand.”
Meanwhile, the US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski said the contract for the design of Poland’s first nuclear plant represented “of the most significant steps forward to date in U.S.-Polish civil nuclear cooperation.”
He added: “I commend the Polish government and the companies involved in the project for their focus in seeing this effort through to this critical point.”
The US ambassador, who also attended the signing ceremony, stated: “Energy security is national security, and America’s security is interdependent with Poland’s security.”
Westinghouse said in a statement: “The contract scope includes finalizing a site-specific design for three Westinghouse AP1000® nuclear islands based on the most advanced Generation III+ nuclear reactor available today; Turbine Island and Balance of Plant design work; and support for PEJ to prepare license application materials, training programs, and operations and maintenance procedures.”
The US company added that “work outlined in the 18-month contract will begin immediately.”
Poland’s first nuclear power plant to be ready from 2033
In May, the Polish government and PEJ signed a “milestone” agreement with Westinghouse and Bechtel on the design and construction of Poland’s first planned nuclear power plant.
Poland’s first nuclear station is set to be built in the northern villages of Lubiatowo and Kopalino on the Baltic coast, using Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor technology, officials said.
Construction is set to start in 2026, with the first of three reactors slated to be ready in 2033, according to the Polish government.
In April, Poland’s state-run energy giant PGE and the biggest private energy firm ZE PAK created a joint-venture company that will team up with South Korea’s KHNP to build a nuclear plant in western Poland.
In all, Poland’s nuclear energy policy foresees the creation of six nuclear reactors with a combined installed capacity of 6-9 GW, the PAP news agency reported.
Meanwhile in July, the Polish government approved a plan by state mining company KGHM to build a nuclear power plant based on small modular reactor (SMR) technology.
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Source: PAP, Westinghouse Nuclear, gov.pl
Click on the audio player above for a report by Radio Poland's Marcin Matuszewski.