The group, run by the Team Korea consortium, will aim to submit an initial proposal in the first quarter of 2022. Talks with the Polish government are yet to determine the deadline for a final offer.
KHNP said it will offer its 1,345 MW APR-1400 pressurised water reactor design to Poland in a bid which will be competitive in terms of price, construction schedule, and technology.
Four APR-1400 PWR units have been deployed overseas at the Barakah nuclear power station in the United Arab Emirates, with one already in commercial operation.
Barakah is the only overseas project using KHNP reactor technology. Domestically, KHNP operates the APR-1400 at Shin-Kori-3 and -4 and is building more units at Shin-Hanul-1 and -2, as well as Shin-Kori-5 and -6.
“The Barakah project was completed on budget and on time”, said Jae Hoon Chung, KHNP’s chief executive. “Thanks to this, we are convinced that we can submit a comprehensive and preferential offer which meets the needs of the Polish government.”
KHNP said the Team Korea consortium includes Kepco Engineering and Construction, Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction, Kepco Nuclear Fuel, and Daewoo Engineering and Construction.
According to KHNP, the company wants to involve local Polish companies in the country’s nuclear project as much as possible. Local industrial participation is a requirement set out in the Polish nuclear new-build programme from October last year.
Poland wants to build from 6,000 to 9,000 MW of installed nuclear capacity based on proven, large-scale, pressurised water nuclear reactors, but has not specified vendors for the technology yet. The first units are scheduled to be online in the early 2030s.
Mr Chung said KHNP’s offer is expected to include financing supported by the government-run South Korean export credit agency to meet Poland’s requirements for a 49% equity stake in the nuclear project by a co-investor “related” to the technology vendor.
US-based Westinghouse and France’s EDF have already submitted non-binding proposals to Warsaw to build the country’s nuclear reactor fleet using their respective AP-1000 or EPR designs. Both companies have made pledges to integrate the local supply chain in the project.
