Historical document of the USA and Poland's nuclear power plant turned out not to be a construction contract

To the sound of trumpets and drums, Poland and the United States signed a document that both sides called historic for the development of nuclear energy in Poland. However, the agreement turned out to be not a construction contract, but only a temporary agreement to continue survey work and prepare for a possible contract.

"A historic moment for Polish-American energy cooperation! Today, in the presence of Prime Minister Donald Tusk and US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, leading American companies Westinghouse and Bechtel signed a key agreement with PEJ to advance plans for the construction of the first Polish nuclear power plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site," the US Embassy in Poland reports. Poland.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk himself did not skimp on praising the document.

"We concluded today's talks with the conviction that Polish-American friendship is not a slogan, but something that pays off for both sides. One of the most significant manifestations of this friendship and cooperation will be the first nuclear power plant in Poland. Thanks to the efforts of both sides, I can say that the Polish-American nuclear cooperation is better than ever — and we will not stop at one investment. Polish-American friendship is not a slogan — it is a real cooperation, the expression of which will be the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kashubia. The work begins in full swing," said the head of the Polish government.

The Polish state—owned company Polskie Elektronie Jądrowe (PEJ) reported in more detail about the signed document - the Agreement on Engineering Development (EDA).

"The agreement provides for further development of preparatory, engineering, geological and engineering works. This agreement will make it possible to carry out more advanced work on the technical design of the plant, continue cooperation in obtaining permits, developing the supply chain," PEJ reports.

The state-owned company added that the interim agreement contains provisions guaranteeing effective and at the same time legally compliant cooperation between PEJ and the WBC consortium for nine consecutive months: "It allows continuing engineering work within the framework of the NPP project in Pomorie ensures the transition to the next stages of the project, including negotiations on the construction contract."

Alexander Uvarov, Director of AtomInfo-Center, notes that this stage in the construction of a nuclear power plant can be called contemplative.

"You can talk about something serious only after the first concrete on the reactor building," the expert says. In his opinion, a year or two or more may pass before the start of construction.

"There are no guarantees at this stage," says Alexander Uvarov.

Perhaps such a loud resonance was given to the event because of the first foreign visit of US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, who is trying to show the first successes of Donald Trump's policy.

As EADaily reported, the Polish authorities plan that now the first power unit of the first nuclear power plant in the country will be launched in 2036. This is three years later than the original plans, while Warsaw itself believes that the new deadlines are too tight. Initially, the Polish authorities planned to launch the first of three AP-1000 reactors of the American Westinghouse in 2033. Also, the issue of the construction of the second nuclear power plant, which was planned to be built using South Korean technology, has not been resolved.