Poland turns to its American ally for its first nuclear power plant
The Maria reactor located in Otwock near Warsaw in 2007. wikipedia
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Poland chose the United States to build its first nuclear power plant.
Work should begin in 2026 to be able to start up the first reactors in ten years.
A way for Poland to partially free itself from coal, which provides 70% of the country's electricity, while energy prices have exploded since the start of the Ukrainian conflict.
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With our correspondent in Warsaw
,
Martin Chabal
This nuclear power plant is an investment eagerly awaited by part of the Polish population.
The country's electricity production is 70% dependent on coal and the war in Ukraine has disrupted imports.
And this winter, prices are skyrocketing, the Poles are paying 20% more for their electricity than last year.
So Poland turned to its American ally to build a new nuclear power plant and diversify its energy mix.
An
increasingly strategic partner for Warsaw
since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
Warsaw chose the American group Westinghouse, in the face of competing offers from French EDF and South Korean KHNP.
Thank you, @SecGranholm, for sharing!
We're grateful to @MorawieckiM & #Poland for placing their confidence in us & both the @ENERGY & @USAmbPoland for their partnership during this project to advance Poland's #EnergySecurity goals.
https://t.co/6QcIQhAErS
— Westinghouse Nuclear (@WECNuclear) October 28, 2022
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Read also:
Poland offers the United States to place nuclear weapons on its soil
The Polish government has still not indicated where this nuclear power plant will be built, but the choice could be the town of Choczewo, in northern Poland, on the coast of the Baltic Sea.
With the American nuclear power plant, and the offshore wind and photovoltaic park planned in the region, this small town could generate 12% of Poland's electricity needs.
But on the spot, many inhabitants are opposed to this project which would be established in the middle of the Polish countryside.
It would be built in a Natura 2000 area, protected by European Union environmental laws.
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To read also:
War in Ukraine: Poland wants to free itself from energy dependence on Russia
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