WESTINGHOUSE, BECHTEL SIGN CONSORTIUM AGREEMENT FOR FIRST NUCLEAR PLANT IN POLAND

The following information was released by the American Nuclear Society (ANS):

At the Bechtel/Westinghouse consortium agreement signing ceremony at the U.S. embassy in Warsaw, were, from left, U.S. ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski; Ahmet Tokpinar, general manager of Bechtel's nuclear power business line; Elias Gedeon, senior vice president for commercial operations at Westinghouse; Miroslaw Kowalik, president of Westinghouse Poland; and Anna Lukaszewska-Trzeciakowska, Poland government plenipotentiary for strategic energy infrastructure. (Photo: Bechtel)

Westinghouse Electric Company and engineering, construction, and project management firm Bechtel on September 20 announced the signing of a consortium agreement to partner on the design and construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant.

The facility is to be located at Lubiatowo-Kopalino, a site in northern Poland near the Baltic coast, about 40 miles northwest of Gdansk, the capital of Poland's Pomeranian province.

The consortium and state-owned Polish utility Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe are expected to ink an engineering services contract for the project this week.

Official words: "American-Polish cooperation on development and deployment of advanced nuclear technologies continues to grow," noted U.S. ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, who attended the signing ceremony in Warsaw. "This agreement between Bechtel and Westinghouse, two global leaders in nuclear energy, is the next step in our cooperation. The United States is proud to be Poland's closest partner for the clean energy transition."

Westinghouse president for energy systems David Durham stated, "This is a team with demonstrated ability to deliver on large nuclear energy projects. The fleet experience we have earned with our advanced, proven AP1000 technology, including a 100 percent complete design and construction lessons-learned, will serve Poland well as it seeks decarbonization and increased energy security."

John Howanitz, president of Bechtel's nuclear, security, and environmental global business unit, also hailed the partnership, saying, "Bechtel and Westinghouse bring more than 140 years of combined nuclear power experience. Together, we have both the proven technology and the hands-on experience required to build Poland's first-ever nuclear energy program. We are eager to partner with the local workforce, suppliers, and community, to deliver the clean and reliable energy Poland needs."

In case you missed it: Bechtel announced on September 10 the opening of an office in Warsaw to support the Polish nuclear project. According to the company, it is actively looking to fill positions at the new office in engineering, safety, procurement, supply chain, project controls, and finance. As plans for Poland's nuclear program continue to move forward, the announcement stated, "Bechtel will grow its presence in the local area. Polish workers, as well as companies both small and large, will play a significant role in the project. Bechtel will continue engaging with suppliers in Poland to help launch a new era of clean and secure energy for the nation."

Background: Poland chose Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor technology for its initial nuclear plant in October of last year, as the Central European nation sought to lessen its dependence on domestic coal and Russian imports for its energy supply. Competing with Westinghouse for the job were Electricite de France and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power.