The president emphasized after visit to the power plantthat he is happy that it is just that – the most modern AP1000 reactors – business Westinghouse will soon be installed in Poland. Andrzej Duda pointed out that these are very safe structures, with multiple protections against any failure.
American technology
Andrzej Duda he added that Poland is consistently working towards construction of nuclear energy. He expressed satisfaction that a power plant using Westinghouse technology will be built in our country and its location will no longer be changed. As he noted, if it is in current plans launch of the first nuclear unit in 2033then “even if it is in 2035, we are still within the general time frame.”
The president assured that he would ensure that the construction of the power plant was carried out as quickly as possible. He did not rule out convening further meetings of the Cabinet Councilin this case.
Zero-emission nuclear energy
Andrzej Duda emphasized that the construction of nuclear power plants will provide Poland with security energetic safetyand will also fill in goals of the EU climate policy. In this context, he recalled the second investment, implemented by the private sector with state support.
The first nuclear power plant in Poland – having three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors with a total capacity of 3,750 MWe – is to be built by Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) in the Choczewo commune in Pomerania. As planned Polish Nuclear Energy Program the first block of the first nuclear power plant would be launched in 2033.
The second nuclear power plant in Poland is to be established as a joint venture PGE PAK Nuclear Energy and Korean concern KHNP. The power plant is to have at least two APR1400 reactors with a total capacity of 2,800 MW. The power plant is to be built in 2035 in Konin-Pątnów in Greater Poland, in the areas bordering the current power plant of the ZE PAK Group.
Westinghouse power plant in the USA
Vogtle nuclear power plantoperated by Georgia Power, is the only one in the USA that consists of four units. Vogtle blocks 1 and 2 are Westinghouse model 4-Loop reactorslaunched in 1987 and 1989.
In 2009, the American nuclear regulator NRC issued preliminary licenses for the expansion of the power plant with units 3 and 4 using the new Westinghouse AP1000 technology. The then schedule envisaged the launch of new units in 2016 and 2017. The cost was estimated at USD 14 billion, including over USD 4 billion. were to be financing costs. Construction began in 2013, but was delayed from the beginning due to the final construction AP1000 reactor design it was not ready yet, and the general contractor Shaw did not have much experience with such investments. Delays were accompanied by cost overruns as a result of problems at the Vogtle construction site and the VC Summer power plant in South Carolina. Westinghouse filed an application for protection from creditors in court in 2017, and in the same year the company was bought by Canadian Brookfield fund. In the following years, Vogtle received additional loan guarantees from the US government, totaling USD 12 billion.
Both new units were finally completed after 7 years of delays, unit number 3 began commercial operation on August 1, 2023, and for unit number 4 it is planned for mid-year. The construction cost, including financing costs, is estimated at over $30 billion.
From Waynesboro Aleksandra Rebelińska
