Korean Nuclear Power Industry Speeds Expansion to Eastern Europe with Poland Deal

Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s upcoming visit to Poland has raised expectations that Korean companies will be able to gain an edge in the second phase of Poland’s nuclear power plant project if the two countries strengthen cooperation in the field of green energy.

After failing to win the first phase of the nuclear power plant construction project in Poland, the Korean nuclear power industry is poised to pull out all the stops to win the second phase of the project by forming Team Korea, including Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Doosan Enerbility. A tender for the second phase is scheduled for the second half of this year.

According to sources in related industries on July 10, President Yoon will hold a summit with Polish President Andrzej Duda at Polish Presidential Palace on July 13 to discuss strengthening cooperation in strategic fields such as defense, nuclear power, and infrastructure, and even in cooperation in the reconstruction of Ukraine.

Although U.S.-based Westinghouse won the order for the construction of six pressurized light water reactors with capacities of 6 to 9 GW, projects that were promoted by the Polish government, Korean companies are determined to win the second phase order for the construction of Pątnów Nuclear Power Plant, which will be carried out by the private sector later this year.

The president of PGE leading the second phase of the project visited Korea in April to discuss the nuclear power plant project with Doosan Enerbility and Daewoo Engineering & Construction. This has also increased the possibility of Korean companies landing a second batch order from Poland.

As Doosan Enerbility is engaged in the small modular reactor (SMR), offshore wind and gas turbine, hydrogen energy, and eco-friendly fuel businesses, the company has high expectations of achieving meaningful results from President Yoon’s state visit to Poland.

As wind power accounted for the largest share (51 percent) of renewable energy sources in Poland in 2022, cooperation in the wind power business can also be strengthened. Doosan Enerbility plans to appeal to Poland by highlighting the rich expertise that it has accumulated by manufacturing 98 wind turbines totaling 347.5 MW since 2005.

The order for the Polish nuclear power plant can become an important stepping stone to winning nuclear power plant construction orders from other Eastern European countries. The Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, and other countries are expected to have high demand for new nuclear power plants, which can offer an important opportunity for the growth of Korea’s nuclear power industry.