The contract for the design of Poland’s first nuclear power plant was signed at a ceremony in Warsaw attended by Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and U.S. Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski.
Poland has decided to make nuclear power the cornerstone of its transition to a carbon-free source of energy, which will also reduce the country’s dependence on foreign sources of energy.
The Engineering Service Contract for the 3,750 MWe plant to be built in northern Poland was signed by PEJ CEO Mateusz Berger, Westinghouse CEO Patrick Fragman and John Howanitz of Bechtel.
Ambassador Brzezinski described the agreement as an important step in implementing Polish-American cooperation in civilian nuclear energy, adding that it was not only a commercial undertaking but also strategic for Poland’s energy industry.
Morawiecki took to Facebook to announce the deal, writing: “In the name of the government, I signed a contract today with our American partners for the construction of the first Polish nuclear power station. It has a historic dimension and marks the start of a new energy era in Poland. It also strengthens Polish security and our cooperation with the U.S.”
The prime minister went on to say that the development of nuclear power will ensure stability for Poland’s energy system, which was based on green energy sources. He said it will also reduce the country’s dependence on imported oil and gas.
“It’s a breakthrough and a revolution,” he wrote, adding, “Never again any oil or gas from Russia!”
The deal covers a timescale of 18 months, during which over 400 reports and studies are to be produced related to the nuclear plant’s construction. The agreement also foresees the design of supply chains, support for the investment process, and preparation of the necessary documentation to secure the construction permit.
In December 2021, the 100 percent state-owned PEJ named the site of Poland’s first nuclear power plant as Lubiatowo-Kopalino in the coastal Pomeranian province. The plant is to be developed using Westinghouse’s AP1000 technology and will comprise three blocks. Construction is scheduled to commence in 2026, with the first block set to begin producing electricity in 2033.
The project’s estimated budget is over 100 billion Polish zloty (€21.60 billion). On Sept. 22, the General Directorate for Environmental Protection accepted plans for the plant’s construction and use.
