Poland Sets Timeline to Select Second Nuclear Plant Partner and Location
Poland's Updated Nuclear Power Expansion Plans
Timeline for Second Nuclear Plant Partner and Location
WARSAW, June 12 (Reuters) - Poland plans to select a partner for its second nuclear power plant in 2027 and confirm its location the following year, its deputy energy minister told reporters on Friday as he presented the country's updated plan for nuclear power capacity.
Planned Nuclear Capacity and Transition from Coal
The program anticipates that Poland will ultimately have 6-9 gigawatts of nuclear power plant capacity as it moves away from the coal-based power fleet.
First Nuclear Plant Construction and Timeline
The first plant is set to supply electricity to the grid in 2036, and its construction will begin in 2028. "This schedule is feasible," Wojciech Wrochna told a news conference.
International Partners and Selection Process
Poland has chosen U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric to build its first nuclear plant on the Baltic Sea coast and has started consultations to select a partner for a second plant, inviting candidates from the U.S., France, Canada and South Korea.
Dialogue with South Korea
Warsaw is no longer in dialogue with South Korea on the project as potential South Korean partners have not responded to the invitation, Energy Minister Milosz Motyka told the same conference.
Financing and Project Sites
The government expects that a chosen partner will provide financing for the project, Wrochna said.
"The assumption for the second nuclear project is that we are moving away from the project that is financed by taxpayers," he said.
Preferred Locations for Second Nuclear Project
The preferred sites for the second nuclear project include Belchatow and Konin in central Poland.
(Reporting by Marek Strzelecki; Editing by Jan Harvey)
