South Korean Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Lee Chang-yang has visited Poland to discuss nuclear power, defence and high-tech bilateral collaboration. This followed South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol’s meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the NATO summit in Madrid where he promoted Korea’s nuclear technology. South Korea's new Yoon Suk-yeol government has been actively pushing to revive its nuclear energy industry, reversing the former government's nuclear phase-out policy.
Lee arrived in Poland at the head of a large trade delegation following a three-day visit to the Czech Republic, where Korea hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) is competing against US and French companies in bidding for Czech Republic's planned new unit at the Dukovany NPP estimated to cost more than $6 billion.
In Poland Korea is also competing to construct six nuclear plants in a project costing at least $40 billion. Lee met with Anna Moskwa, Poland’s Minister of Climate and Environment during which the two Ministers signed an MOU for Korea-Poland energy cooperation covering nuclear, hydrogen and other energy areas. They agreed to launch a governmental energy joint committee to convene on a regular basis. Lee also held talks with Ryszard Terlecki, the Parliamentary Caucus Head of the Law and Justice party and discussed how Korea could contribute to Poland’s energy security.
The same afternoon, Lee delivered a congratulatory message at the Korean Nuclear and High-Tech Day 2022 held at the Sheraton Warsaw Hotel, where he stressed Korea’s strong interest in Poland’s nuclear power plant projects and how the two countries could develop optimal partnership, recalling Korea’s success in construction of the Barakah project in UAE. Nine nuclear sector cooperation MOUs were signed at the event involving six Korean companies (KHNP, Hanki, Daewoo, Kepco-KPS, Kepco fuel, Doosan-E) and nine Polish companies (ILF, BAKS, Rafako, ZRE, Zarmen, Polimex, EPK, EthosEnergy MMH).
Image: South Korean Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Lee Chang-yang has visited Poland to discuss nuclear power, defence and high-tech bilateral collaboration (photo courtesy of Yonhap News)
