Plans for Poland’s first nuclear power plant move ahead as US and Polish officials sign an agreement

Poland Signs Agreement to Construct First Nuclear Power Plant

WARSAW, Poland — (AP) — Polish and U.S. officials signed an agreement Wednesday in Warsaw to move forward with the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant as part of an effort by the Central European nation to move away from polluting fossil fuels.

New Chapter for Poland’s Energy Sector

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called the deal to build the plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Pomerania region near the Baltic Sea the beginning of a new chapter for Poland, and described nuclear energy as a stable and clean energy source.

“The only clean, stable energy source that is technologically proven and verified in terms of safety is nuclear energy, which is having its big day today,” he said at the ceremony.

Morawiecki’s government had announced last year that it had chosen the U.S. as its partner for the project.

A consortium made up of Westinghouse and Bechtel signed the agreement with the Polish state-owned utility overseeing the nuclear program, Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ).

Location and Environmental Considerations

The planned site is about 280 kilometers (175 miles) from the border with Germany, which shut its last remaining nuclear reactors in April. Last year, the four German states closest to Poland said they were opposed to the Polish plan.

Many environmentalists traditionally oppose nuclear energy, and in Poland some argue that the initial cost is so high and that it takes so long to develop that it makes more sense to invest in renewable energies. Still, opposition in Poland to the plan has not been high.

Even the Greens party is divided on the matter. That is a reflection of how fears of climate change have persuaded some environmentalists around the world to embrace nuclear power as a solution, because it doesn’t involve the burning of fossil fuels.

Poland’s Nuclear Energy Plans

Poland is planning to spend $40 billion to build two nuclear power plants with three reactors each, the last one to be launched in 2043. The deal with the U.S. is for the first three reactors of the Pomerania plant, which officials say should start producing electricity in 2033.

Poland has also signed agreements with South Korea for the construction of a second nuclear power plant as it moves forward with its nuclear energy plans.

Towards Sustainable Development Goals

Poland has planned for decades to build nuclear power plants to replace its aging coal-fired plants in a country with some of the worst air pollution in Europe.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its use of energy to put economic and political pressure on European nations added urgency to Poland’s search for alternative energy sources.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The article discusses Poland’s plan to build its first nuclear power plant as part of its effort to move away from polluting fossil fuels. This aligns with SDG 7, which aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. It also connects to SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Additionally, the construction of the nuclear power plant contributes to SDG 9, which promotes the development of resilient infrastructure, sustainable industrialization, and innovation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 7.2: Increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix
• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• SDG 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure

Based on the article, the specific targets that can be identified are increasing the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (SDG 7.2), integrating climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (SDG 13.2), and developing quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure (SDG 9.1).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Percentage of energy generated from renewable sources
• Number of national policies and strategies that integrate climate change measures
• Investment in infrastructure development

While the article does not explicitly mention indicators, we can imply some indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators include the percentage of energy generated from renewable sources, the number of national policies and strategies that integrate climate change measures, and the investment in infrastructure development.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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