According to the plans of the Polish government, from 2033, nuclear power plants should be launched in the country in order to completely move away from coal-fired power generation. At the same time, Poland has no final agreements with any company in the world that could help with the construction of nuclear facilities. A company from the Republic of Korea offered its assistance in this country, which is ready to build six full-fledged reactors within the specified time frame.

Image Source: KHNP

Recently, a delegation of the Korean company Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), with the support of the South Korean authorities, arrived in Poland and offered to build six APR-1400 reactors in the country. These are third generation pressurized water reactors. The total generation capacity of the APR-1400 reactors will reach 8.4 GW. The first of the reactors can be put into operation in 2033 and the rest one every two years.

Poland’s nuclear program provides for the construction of six reactors with a capacity of 1 GWe to 1.5 GWe, the first of which should be launched in 2033. They will replace coal-fired power plants, which today provide up to 73% of the electricity in the country. The first major power plant will be located in northern Poland on the Baltic coast, and an environmental impact assessment of these facilities was presented to regulators at the end of March.

KHNP has already built and commissioned four APR-1400 reactors: two in South Korea and two in the UAE. Two more reactors are next in line in these countries. It took 8 to 10 years to build each of the reactors, so if the Polish authorities choose the APR-1400 project, then KHNP has enough time to follow the Polish side’s construction schedule.

In addition to the Koreans, the French company EDF ( EPR2 reactors) and the American Westinghouse ( AP1000 ) offer to build their reactors in Poland. Also in Poland, they are interested in promising small modular reactors, in particular, the American company NuScale. Judging by the events taking place in the energy sector, the Polish authorities need to hurry up with a choice.