Poland has picked the U.S. government and Westinghouse to construct the central European country’s first nuclear power plant, part of a work to burn less coal and gain more prominent energy independence.
Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said late Friday on Twitter that Poland would use the “reliable, safe technology” of the Westinghouse Electric Company for the plant in Pomerania region close to the Baltic Sea coast. The specific location still needs to be recognized.
A solid Poland-U.S. alliance “guarantees the success of our joint initiatives,” Morawiecki said.
Poland is wanting to spend $40 billion to assemble two nuclear power plants with three reactors each, the final remaining one to be launched in 2043. The deal with the U.S. also, Westinghouse is for the first three reactors of the Pomerania plant, which authorities saying ought to begin producing electricity in 2033.
Poland has planned for decades to fabricate a nuclear power plant to supplant its aging coal-fired plants in a country with a portion of the most terrible air pollutions in Europe. Construction of a Soviet-technology nuclear plant started in the mid 1980s, when Poland was in the East Bloc.
Fights by residents and environmentalists, the 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine and budget deficiencies prompted the rejecting of the project.
Russia’s attack of Ukraine this year and its use of energy to put economic and political pressure on European countries have added urgency to Poland’s search for elective energy sources.
Polish government representative Piotr Mueller said Saturday that the government would adopt a decision at its meeting Wednesday, which will launch environmental approval and investment procedures.
Mueller said the atomic plant in northern Poland would require improving infrastructure in the area, including streets.
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said the project would make or support in excess of 100,000 jobs for American laborers.
“This is a HUGE step in strengthening our relationship with Poland to create energy security for future generations to come,” Granholm said.
“This announcement also sends a clear message to Russia: We will not let them weaponize energy any longer,” Granholm said. “The West will stand together against this unprovoked aggression, while also diversifying energy supply chains and bolstering climate cooperation.”
Poland had additionally thought about offers from France and South Korea. Poland State Assets Minister Jacek Sasin proposed there may as yet be a role for South Korea in the project and more discussions are planned for Seoul one week from now.
Westinghouse has sued in federal court to hinder a likely deal for competitor Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power to sell reactors to Poland.
The US is one of the most important partners of NATO-part Poland. After Russia’s attack of Ukraine in February, the U.S. expanded its military presence in the nation, making a permanent presence for the first time, and involving Poland as a hub for sending weapons to Ukraine.