Poland, US sign memorandum on civilian nuclear energy cooperation

The signing of the document in the US capital on Wednesday coincided with Polish President Andrzej Duda's visit to the White House.

The memorandum of understanding, which was signed by US Energy Secretary Rick Perry and Poland's Secretary of State for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Piotr Naimski, is a concrete step opening strategic energy dialogue between Poland and the United States, the Polish embassy announced on Twitter.

Poland's Energy Minister Krzysztof Tchórzewski said in Warsaw on Wednesday that “there is a strong will from the United States to cooperate with Poland" as his country is preparing to build its first nuclear power plant.

Tchórzewski also said that Poland "is quite open in this field" and "looking not only for technology, but also for partners.”

He said: “We want the technology along with a partner who would like to become up to 49 percent involved in such an undertaking, and [in the construction of] of not just one power unit, but six to nine such units, with cooperation extending over 20 years.”

Tchórzewski added: “These talks concern a wider group [of countries], but the United States has taken the greatest interest in this matter.”

(aba/gs)

Source: PAP