South Korea, Poland sign agreement to develop nuclear power

The ministries from both South Korea and Poland announced that Seoul and Warsaw signed outline agreements to develop nuclear power in Poland. The agreements come as Poland is looking to reduce carbon emissions while South Korea is seeking to revive its nuclear power industry.

South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy issued a joint statement with Poland’s Ministry of State Assets Monday, saying that both countries are set to assess the viability of building four 1,400-megawatt nuclear reactors in Patnow in central Poland with South Korean technology. Poland’s ZE PAK and PGE and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power will be in charge of making the assessments. The two companies, with the backing of their respective governments, are set to prepare a preliminary development plan by the end of the year.

The outline agreements also come as South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took office in May, pledged to revive the country’s nuclear power industry. Seoul has since ramped up efforts to secure nuclear power plant export orders.

South Korean Energy, Trade, and Industry minister Chang Yang-lee said that if the deal is finalized, it would be an “achievement supported by the Korean government’s firm determination and policy to export nuclear plants.” Polish State Assets minister Jacek Sasin also discussed enhancing Poland’s defense partnership with South Korea during his visit to Seoul.

“We welcome the information that ZE PAK and PGE have entered into talks with KHNP, which will further strengthen relations between Poland and South Korea,” said Sasin, according to a statement.

The signing of the outline agreements also follows the announcement made Friday last week when Warsaw said US company Westinghouse Co. will be building the country’s first nuclear power plant in northern Poland.

Poland was also among the countries that expressed their condolences following the Halloween crush in South Korea’s Itaewon district over the weekend that killed dozens of people.

“Deep and sincere expressions of sympathy to the people of the Republic of Korea for the tragedy that took place in Seoul. Poland and the Republic of Korea share deep ties of friendship. We are with you in these difficult times,” tweeted Polish foreign minister Zbigniew Rau.