Dispute with America delays Korea’s nuclear project in Poland

A government representative admits that as long as Korea and the US are in a dispute over nuclear technology, it will be difficult to implement the NPP project in Pątnów.

“Until the dispute over nuclear technology between Korea and the US is solved, we cannot take risks,” said Maciej Bando, the Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastrcuture. He explained that the permit to use this technology in the UAE was a one-time permission, and it remains unknown whether the project in Poland would receive one as well.

Polska Grupa Energetyczna and ZE PAK are preparing a feasibility study for two to four APR1400 blocks in Pątnów, Konin. This technology is used by the Korean KHNP, but the US government and Westinghouse argue that it is American, so Korea needs an approval from the US Department of energy to transfer it to other countries. The Koreans reject this interpretation, so the dispute continues. PGE has stated in the past that the first Korean reactor could be built in 2035.

Wojciech Jakóbik