Poland and South Korea have signed letters of intent in Seoul regarding future Polish investment in nuclear power; this means Poland is likely to choose the Asian country to build Poland’s second nuclear power plant.
“The initiative of ZE PAK and PGE is extremely interesting because it fulfills the strategic goals of Poland and Poles — cheap energy and energy independence,” said Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin.
The news comes just days after Poland announced that the United States had been selected to build Poland’s first nuclear power plant.
According to Sasin, who visited Seoul last week, Poland and South Korea share common goals with regard to developing nuclear energy. According to Sasin, it is part of Poland’s drive to maintain its independence via energy and military security. Poland is also buying weapons from South Korea.
The first letter of intent on a future investment was signed by Korean KNHP and Polish companies ZE PAK and PGE. A second document was signed by Sasin and Korean Minister for Trade, Energy and Industry Lee Chang-Yang, with both governments pledging support for the project.
Minister Lee Chang-Yang said that the timely completion of the project, delivered according to budget, would contribute to improving Poland’s economy and energy security. He said that South Korea had modern and financially viable nuclear energy technologies to offer.
According to the Polish deputy prime minister, by the end of the year, a feasibility study on the nuclear power plant in Pątnów in central Poland should be completed.
The first nuclear power plant to be constructed in Poland will be built by the U.S. company Westinghouse, but representatives of the Polish government believe that both the American and Korean reactors could come online in 2033. Poland’s nuclear power strategy is designed to radically alter Poland’s energy mix away from coal and gas towards nuclear and renewable sources.
Poland is also buying K2 tanks, K9 howitzers, and fighter jets from South Korea. According to Poland’s defense minister, Mariusz Błaszczak, his country wants to produce these weapons in Poland as well. Sasin told journalists in Seoul that he is discussing this possibiliy with his Korean counterpart and the option remains on the table.
