PGE Shortlists Three Sites for Poland's First Nuclear Power Plant

Researched by Industrial Info Resources Europe (Galway, Ireland)--Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA (PGE) (Warsaw, Poland) has selected three possible sites, Choczewo, Gaski and Zarnowiec, for the construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant. The three sites will undergo simultaneous, detailed surveys and site characterization work for the next two years.

The selection of the three potential sites is a result of many months of studies and analyses, taking into account a variety of factors, including main characteristics of the area, access to cooling water, natural environment issues, current land development status, as well as logistics and proximity to the transmission grid, roads and railways.

Tomasz Zadroga, the president of PGE, said: "At present, we treat all three sites as equally probable. There are two years of detailed research and analyses ahead, including geological investigation and environmental studies. These will allow us to select the final site for the first Polish nuclear power plant. We expect to have finalized the selection process in 2013."

The Choczewo site is located in the northern part of the Pomeranian voivoidship, near Lubiatowo, Kierzkowo and Kopalino. The site is adjacent to the Baltic Sea and includes a few scattered buildings on the Western side, which are remnants of liquidated military facilities.

The Gaski site is located in the northwest of Poland, in the West Pomeranian voivoidship. This site is also adjacent to the Baltic Sea and mainly consists of arable land.

The Zarnowiec site is located in the northwest of Poland, in the Pomeranian voivoidship, within the boundaries of the Pomeranian special economic zone. The site is brownfield, with a small amount of uncultivated greenery. Industrial facilities occupy the northern and southern ends of the site, with its central part taken up by degraded land, including facilities from an abandoned nuclear power plant. The eastern part of the site contains mostly dilapidated and abandoned buildings which were supposed to become living quarters and offices for an unfinished, Soviet-era nuclear power plant.

PGE is likely to release a tender to select a technology supplier by the end of 2011. Westinghouse Electric Company LLC (Monroeville, Pennsylvania), Areva SA (EPA:AREVA) (Paris, France) and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (Wilmington, North Carolina) are expected to take part in the tender. For additional information see July 14, 2011, article - Poland Supports Nuclear Bill.

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