Westinghouse has identified six suppliers in Poland who are capable of carrying out work related to nuclear safety and requiring the highest qualifications in the construction of a nuclear power plant, Westinghouse Energy Systems Department head Dan Lipman told PAP.
“In Poland, we have identified over 30 suppliers so far. But more importantly, and perhaps uniquely, we have identified six of them as capable of performing work related to nuclear safety, the most complex components that require the highest level of supervision and documentation,” Lipman said.
He added that some sectors of Polish industry are so advanced that Westinghouse has the comfort and certainty that they would be able to cope with the tasks.
Lipman emphasized that the local supply chain in Poland is a very important part of the EDA (Engineering Development Agreement) bridge agreement signed at the end of April by the investor – the Polish Nuclear Power Plants company with the contractors – the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium. The goal is that after completing the EDA, we will have complete order specifications and be able to obtain offers from Polish companies – he emphasized. Dan Lipman added that the specifications include a lot of technical information, and suppliers must provide contractors with very complex documents.
He also noted that Westinghouse's supply chain is global and the company receives offers for various equipment from various suppliers from all over the world, including Polish ones. We will cooperate with PEJ to jointly select the best suppliers – assured the head of Westinghouse Energy Systems. On the other hand, as he assessed, Westinghouse hopes to engage Polish suppliers in other markets, such as Sweden, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Finland and perhaps Ukraine, where there are plans to build AP1000 type reactors. Three or maybe six such reactors will be built in Poland, but more will be built in the world. “And I would like Poland to be part of this ecosystem. It is important to keep this in mind in the long term” – emphasized Lipman.
The investor and future operator of the first Polish nuclear power plant at Lubiatowo-Kopalino in Pomerania will be the 100% state-owned company PEJ. The plant will be equipped with three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors. According to the current schedule, the first nuclear concrete for the first reactor is to be poured in 2028. The first block is planned to start commercial operation in 2036. (PAP)
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