French power utility EDF has signed cooperation agreements with five Polish firms as part of its efforts to become a strategic partner in the development of Poland’s first nuclear plants. It has also revealed that the French government is supporting its involvement, including in securing financing.
Last year, EDF submitted a preliminary offer to construct four to six EPR nuclear reactors in Poland at two or three sites, representing a total installed capacity of 6.6 to 9.9 GW. The French company estimated the cost of building four reactors at around €33 billion and six at €48.5 billion.
In an interview published today by the Polish Press Agency (PAP), EDF’s deputy CEO Vakis Ramany revealed that the offer was supplemented at the time by a special letter from France’s then finance minister, who on behalf of the government declared support for EDF and France’s readiness to seek financing tools for the project.
The Polish government’s nuclear programme envisages the construction of six reactors with a total capacity of 6-9 GW. Commissioning of the first unit, with a capacity of about 1-1.6 GW, is planned for 2033.
Poland currently produces around 70% of its electricity from coal – by far the highest level in the EU – and is seeking lower-emission sources of power. France is one of three countries that are seeking to collaborate in the nuclear plans, alongside South Korea and the United States.
The Polish government expects that its partner in the programme will take a 49% stake in a company created for the purpose, provide appropriate financing, and participate not only in the construction but also in the operation of the new nuclear power plants, PAP reports.
The latest news comes after EDF signed new partnership agreements with five Polish companies – Polimex Mostostal, Sefako, Tele-fonika Kable, Uniserv and ZRE Katowice – last week.
Agreements were also signed between Bouygues Travaux Publics and Budimex S.A. and between IGEOS and GIFEN. These follow on from five agreements signed last December in France with Zarmen, Rafako, Dominion, Egis Polska and EPG.
“These collaborations will enable a significant change and increase in the capacity of Polish industry,” says Thierry Deschaux, director of EDF’s Polish office. “With 66 Polish companies already pre-qualified, we are consolidating our strategy of local anchoring and we are confident that we will pass the 100 company mark by the end of the year.”
Main photo credit: Lukáš Lehotský/Unsplash
Alicja Ptak is senior editor at Notes from Poland and a multimedia journalist. She previously worked for Reuters.
