KHNP Expected to Sign LOI with Poland on Oct. 31
Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is expected to sign a letter of intent with Poland on Oct. 31 regarding nuclear power plant construction. Multiple nuclear power plants are planned to be built in Poland and those are expected to be built by Westinghouse Electric Co. and KHNP. Polish Deputy Prime Minister Jacek Sasin met with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm on Oct. 25 to discuss the matter before his announcement scheduled for next month.
According to Polish newspapers, Poland’s decision has to do with KHNP’s price competitiveness and technology transfer. According to them, KHNP is capable of building six 8.4 GW reactors at a total cost of US$26.7 billion whereas the costs of the United States and France for the same number of similar reactors are US$31.3 billion and more than US$33 billion, respectively.
The newspapers also reported that KHNP proposed post-construction technology transfer to Poland and this is why Westinghouse filed a suit on Oct. 21. According to the American nuclear power company, KHNP’s APR-1400 reactor that may be built in Poland is based on its technology and cannot be exported without its consent and the secretary’s approval.
KHNP and Westinghouse agreed on closer cooperation when the U.S. and South Korean presidents met in May. The recently filed suit, however, is affecting their cooperation in the industry. Westinghouse and KHNP are competing for projects in the Czech Republic as well, and KHNP’s goals there may also be affected by the litigation.