The Polish government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a new nuclear power plant, despite a recent shift to a center-left government. Recognizing the necessity of nuclear power for ensuring stable electricity supply, the new administration has addressed concerns about local political risks within the South Korean nuclear industry.
In an interview with local broadcaster TVN24 on March 2 (local time), Maciej Bando, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Climate and Environment in Poland, affirmed that there is a “clear decision” to construct the power plant in the Choczewo commune, based on current indications. He said, “There is no way today for us to stop the nuclear project.”
South Korea is actively pursuing nuclear power development in Poland through Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP). In late October 2022, KHNP signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Polish private power companies ZE PAK and Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) to construct two Korean-designed APR1400 nuclear reactors.
KHNP plans to finalize the feasibility study and establish a special purpose entity with ZE PAK and PGE to kickstart nuclear power plant construction. Hwang Joo-ho, CEO of KHNP, visited Poland in January to present the technical capabilities and past achievements of KHNP.
The decision to invest in Poland is part of South Korea’s strategy to expand nuclear power exports to Central and Western Europe. The ongoing energy crises in Eastern Europe due to the war between Russia and Ukraine have heightened the region’s awareness of the importance of nuclear energy.
The Czech Republic, bordering Poland, is currently progressing with the construction of the Dukovany nuclear power plant, featuring four reactors with a combined capacity of 1200 MW. ‘Team Korea’, spearheaded by KHNP and including participants like Doosan Enerbility and Daewoo E&C, is in contention against Électricité de France (EDF). With the recent elimination of the United States’ Westinghouse Electric Company from the candidate list, the odds of winning the contract have significantly improved. The project’s scale is estimated to be around 30 trillion won.
In Bulgaria, Hyundai E&C has been chosen as the preferred negotiator for the Kozloduy nuclear power plant construction, with a total project cost of 18.7 trillion won. Last year, KHNP also secured a contract worth 260 billion won for the export of the Tritium Removal Facility (TRF) to Romania. Additionally, they are actively pursuing a contract to upgrade Cernavoda Unit 1, valued at 2.5 trillion won. Ukraine is also moving forward with a project to build four nuclear reactors to offset energy losses resulting from the war.
A South Korean government official emphasized that “Poland could serve as a gateway for expanding Korea’s nuclear power exports to Europe.” They highlighted plans for new nuclear power plant constructions not only in Eastern Europe but also in Western Europe, including the UK and the Netherlands. Thus, securing nuclear power plant contracts in Poland is deemed crucial.
