US corporation to build first nuclear plant in Poland

Illustration photo: AP

According to RT, the above information was announced by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on October 28.

Accordingly, Westinghouse Electric will receive the contract to build the reactors and the first reactor will be completed in 2033.

“A strong Polish-American alliance ensures the success of joint initiatives,” Morawiecki tweeted, adding that the decision to use Westinghouse’s safe and reliable technology came after talks with US Vice President Kamala Harris and US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm.

Mr. Morawiecki also thanked US Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski, who presented Westinghouse's proposal last month.

A South Korean state-owned company also submitted a bid for the project in April. Poland has also discussed the project with French companies.

A senior US official asserted that Poland's choice of the US and Westinghouse was sending a message to Russia about the strength and cohesion of the US-Poland alliance.

According to Poland's vision, the power project would have a total of six reactors built by 2040 and producing 6 to 9 gigawatts of electricity. Westinghouse would provide technology, management support and financing for the plants in exchange for a 49 percent stake in the joint venture.

According to Mr. Granholm and Westinghouse, the nuclear power plant project is a way for Poland to reduce carbon emissions and phase out coal. Poland stopped importing natural gas from Russia in April, citing the conflict in Ukraine.

Previously, on October 21, President Andrzej Duda's foreign policy advisor said that US troops and nuclear weapons need to have a long-term presence on Polish territory.

On September 29, the US Embassy in Poland announced that the country will receive 288.6 million USD in the US "Foreign Military Assistance" program.

Foreign military assistance is a US aid mechanism for allies. This aid can be provided in the form of non-repayable loans to purchase US equipment, as well as pay for training by US military experts.

The US Embassy said the money would help Poland speed up the process of compensating for the equipment it has taken from its reserves to help Ukraine strengthen its defense capabilities, including tanks. The US Embassy also affirmed: "The US continues to encourage countries to provide urgent assistance to Ukraine, as well as to begin negotiating contracts with arms manufacturers to produce military equipment for Ukraine as soon as possible."

According to Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, as of early June, Poland had become the second largest arms supplier to Ukraine after the United States. Specifically, Poland had supplied Ukraine with about 240 T-72 tanks, along with infantry fighting vehicles and self-propelled artillery. In addition, Poland also provided Ukraine with the most modern equipment made in Poland, such as Piorun missiles, a type of weapon that even the United States has begun to buy from Poland.