Grzegorz Onichimowski, co-creator of the energy program of the Civic Platform, recently told us about the ideas of the future government of Donald Tusk for nuclear energy. He commented plans to build a power plant in Pomerania, which will cost approximately PLN 100 billion.
— We are in favor of implementing this investment, but on transparent terms. Today we hear that a contract of difference is at stake, i.e. PiS is returning to the idea that it had previously abandoned and which was “inherited” by the previous PO/PSL cabinet. We need to look at this and decide how to develop nuclear energy in a sensible way. The decision on how to finance the project and the assessment of the risk of a foreign partner’s participation in this project will be crucial – he said in an interview with Business Insider.
In an interview with Bloomberg, he clarified that it would be advisable for Westinghouse to become financially involved in the project and take over at least 30 percent. shares in this venture.
Our sources close to both American companies: Westinghouse and Bechtel indicate that they are not interested in financial participation in the project. It is true that in their offer presented to the Polish government they included the possibility of implementing such a scenario, but ultimately they would prefer to remain as the main contractor of the investment. The Polish government agreed to such an arrangement, and in recent months it has indicated in unofficial talks that it does not envisage Americans taking up shares in the project.
The great unknown remains how to finance the construction of the first nuclear power plant. The government is already in talks with the European Commission on this matter. It’s known that a contract for difference is involved. It involves setting a guaranteed price for the electricity producer – if the market price of energy is lower, the producer receives a subsidy from the state, and if the market price is higher, the power plant gives the surplus to the state. However, Brussels must agree to such public aid. However, the investor – Polish Nuclear Power Plants – does not disclose the price it proposed in its application to the EC.
The first nuclear block in 10 years
According to the plan, the first nuclear unit in Pomerania, in the Choczewo commune, is to be launched in 2033. Preparations for the investment have accelerated significantly in the last year. PEJ already has, among others, consent in principle, which confirms the political will for the project, an environmental decision (not final), a decision on determining the location of the investment, and recently signed an agreement with Westinghouse and Bechtel for the design of the power plant. PEJ argues that the work is going according to schedule.
At the same time, PEJ is working on determining the location for the second nuclear power plant. They are currently analyzing five places where such a facility could be built, but next year – after detailed research – the range of potential locations will be narrowed down to two or three. There is no decision yet on who will provide the technology for the second power plant.
2023-11-29 21:06:19
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