Polish gov't adopts resolution on nuclear plants construction. Blinken: testament to our deep bilateral strategic security and economic relationship

"During the Council of Ministers meeting we have decided to construct the first nuclear power plant on the Polish territory, in a place best suited place ... in northern Poland," Polish prime minister said at a press conference on Wednesday.

"After 4-5 years of very intensive work ... we have decided on the American technology in this first location," he added.

"This resolution, adopted by the Council of Ministers, chooses an American partner, the American company Westinghouse, which has a proven technology."

Morawiecki also said that the approximate cost of the first nuclear plant would be 20 billion dollars, which is 90-100 billion zlotys.

Asked if American capital would be involved in the construction of the plant, Polish PM confirmed that Americans would partially finance the investment. "We would like this share to be as big as possible, but the final decisions will be taken by the American side," he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said in a statement published on Wednesday the United States "welcome the decision by the Government of Poland to select Westinghouse as its technology partner for the construction of three U.S.-designed nuclear reactors". "This agreement will ensure a decades-long strategic energy partnership between the United States and Poland and is a watershed moment in advancing European energy security."

"The U.S. commitment to work with Poland to facilitate the production of safe, clean, and reliable nuclear power is a testament to our deep bilateral strategic security and economic relationship. As NATO Allies, the United States and Poland already cooperate closely on a range of security and defense issues. The United States is proud to further expand our energy security partnership through this new venture," Blinken stressed.

The Secretary of State underscored that the "project is also a major step forward in our global fight against climate change". "When fully operational, the reactors are projected to result in 26 million tons per year of CO2 emissions averted and demonstrate that we can strengthen our energy security and our climate ambition simultaneously."

"The Polish government’s announcement is the culmination of a years-long effort between the United States and Poland, and I thank Foreign Minister Rau for his close cooperation with me on the issue. Through close collaboration, the U.S. and Polish governments developed innovative joint financing and technical solutions to address Polish clean energy needs and ensure the financial viability of the project," Blinken said.

"This robust effort was enabled by the dynamism of the U.S. nuclear industry, and the project will create thousands of good paying jobs in both countries," he added.

"We are taking this one decision today, but I would like to signal at the same time - which is connected to Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin's visit to South Korea - that regardless of this decision we are ready for a second project," Morawiecki said at the conference. He explained that the project would be a joint effort of a South Korean investor and Polish companies aimed at building the second nuclear plant in Poland.

The prime minister also said the government was open to a third project in central Poland, "whose precise location will be chosen in the coming months, quarters". "But we definitely see space for these three large traditional nuclear energy projects," Polish PM added.