This is a setback for EDF. Poland has chosen the American group Westinghouse to build its first nuclear power plant, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced on Friday October 28. In addition to the French company, was also in the running the South Korean KHNP.
“We confirm that our nuclear power project will use reliable and safe technology from @WECNuclear” (Westinghouse), Mr. Morawiecki wrote on Twitter. He said the decision would be officially endorsed during a cabinet meeting in Warsaw on Wednesday.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that the United States was “proud to be Poland’s strong partner for energy and security” and underlined “thousands of jobs” that this collaboration should create in both countries.
“This is a huge step in strengthening our relationship with Poland for generations to come”welcomed the US Secretary of Energy, Jennifer Granholm.
This decision “sends a clear message to Russia, [celui] that the Atlantic Alliance is united to diversify our energy supply (…) and to resist the Russian militarization of energy”she continued in a video.
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Ms Granholm pointed out that Poland was choosing Westinghouse “for the first part of its $40 billion nuclear project”, without specifying the total amount of this investment. A senior US government official speaking on condition of anonymity, however, revealed that the deal was worth “billions” dollars and would create “thousands of well-paying jobs”.
Initially three reactors
Poland had been planning for years to acquire the capacity to produce nuclear energy for civilian purposes and the issue of energy security has become more urgent due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Polish government has announced that it wants this first nuclear power plant, equipped with three reactors, to enter service in 2033. It has chosen to install it in the north of the country, in the village of Choczewo, not far from the sea. Baltic.
Warsaw does not intend to stop there. She wants the construction of three other reactors thereafter. For this “second set”, “we anticipate it will also be Westinghouse”said the American official.
Denmark, Norway and Poland also inaugurated a new gas pipeline last month that will transport Norwegian gas to Poland via Denmark, after Russia cut off its deliveries to the Poles.