Finns will provide their nuclear expertise to Poland's nuclear programme

A consortium of Finnish companies Fortum and TVO will share their nuclear energy expertise and experience with Poland. The two sides have agreed to provide at least two years of support for the licensing and design phase of Poland’s first nuclear power plant in Pomerania. Poland is looking to nuclear power to replace its coal-fired plants and is aiming to have its first reactor in operation in 2033.

Polish company Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ), which is responsible for building the country’s first nuclear power plant, announced that it had signed an agreement with a consortium of Finnish companies Fortum and TVO Nuclear Services. The two-year contract covers the sharing of experience in the construction and operation of nuclear power units.

“Both Fortum and TVO have unique experience and expertise as owners and operators of nuclear facilities for many decades. This sets us apart from many other service providers. We are pleased to contribute together to Poland’s energy transition,” said Anni Jaarinen, Fortum’s Vice President for Nuclear Services.

Finnish experts will support PEJ in particular during the design and licensing phases. They will also advise their Polish colleagues on preparing plans for operational activities and maintenance, as well as training plans for employees.

“We greatly value the opportunity to support our customer and draw on our long-standing expertise. This includes both new-build projects and the operation of nuclear power plants and asset lifecycle management. Our most recent experience comes from the Olkiluoto 3 project (PWR, 1600 MW),” said Ari Leppänen, CEO of TVO Nuclear Services.

Construction to begin within two years

Poland’s first nuclear power plant is expected to have up to three AP1000 units with a total capacity of up to 3 750 MW. The government signed a contract with US company Westinghouse last May, and in October the first nuclear power plant also received a location permit. Construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in northern Poland is scheduled to begin in 2026. PEJ expects commercial operations to start in 2033.

The development of nuclear power is one of the pillars of Poland’s energy transition as the country moves away from generating electricity from fossil fuels. The country is planning a second large nuclear power plant in cooperation with South Korea’s KHNP. Two APR1400 units are planned for the Patnów-Konin site.