Pilsen-based Škoda JS wins first contract in Poland worth CZK 300 million

Pilsen-based Škoda JS a.s., part of the ČEZ Group, has won its first contract in Poland. For around CZK 300 million, it will modernise the MARIA research reactor, part of the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Otwock, near Warsaw. The Czech company is also hoping for further contracts in Poland and wants to take part as a supplier in projects such as the construction of nuclear units. Karel Samec, spokesperson for Škoda JS, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of nuclear power equipment, told the Czech News Agency (ČTK) today.

NCBJ is one of the largest scientific institutes in Central Europe. The MARIA reactor, dating from the 1970s, is currently Poland’s only nuclear reactor and focuses on scientific and medical research. It plays an important role, for example, in the production of medical radioisotopes and provides facilities for research in nuclear physics, materials science and nuclear energy, as well as for training staff to implement Poland’s nuclear energy programme. This year, the reactor was out of operation for several months after its previous licence expired.

"This prestigious contract includes a comprehensive overhaul of the research reactor’s instrumentation and control system, the supply of ionisation and fission chambers, and a new set of control rod drive mechanisms. We are to complete the entire project in December 2027," said Škoda JS commercial director Petr Altschul.

Škoda JS specialists will also prepare complete project documentation for the reactor. The Pilsen-based company is also responsible for integrating the new system, installing it at the reactor and subsequently commissioning it. The contract also includes training operators to work with the new system. The Pilsen engineering works will also manufacture a new set of drives, including encapsulated fission and ionisation chambers, Samec said. dataPartner, based in České Budějovice, is participating in the contract as a subcontractor supplying control system components.

"Our first entry into the Polish market is an important reference for us, also in view of potential business opportunities. Preparations for the construction of new nuclear units in Poland are already well advanced, and we would be pleased to take part as a supplier of some of the components," said Škoda JS CEO František Krček.

The company is currently focusing its export activities, among other things, on Ukraine once the armed conflict has ended, and on Slovakia, where new nuclear power plants are planned. Škoda JS also supplies equipment for projects such as the nuclear power plants currently under construction in the United Kingdom. In the Czech Republic, it is seeking to win contracts to supply equipment for the new units at Dukovany. It recently also signed a memorandum with Rolls-Royce SMR on a partnership to manufacture and supply small modular reactors (SMRs) for the Czech Republic and foreign markets.

Škoda JS increased its operating profit by 16 percent year on year to CZK 287 million last year. Revenue rose by almost 20 percent to CZK 3.92 billion. Exports accounted for just under half of last year’s revenue, mainly to Slovakia and Ukraine. The engineering works increased the value of newly signed contracts by 34 percent year on year to CZK 5.13 billion.