NucNet – In light of the decision to have a commercially operational plant by 2020, can we expect announcements on vendor technologies before the turn of the year?

Zimek: It is a case of gathering data, engaging with investors and seeing what type of company is investing. We must remember that according to the current debate we have a limited time for this project. The timing is very ambitious, probably too ambitious because we are talking about 2020, or maybe some time shortly after that.

We should choose a Generation III nuclear reactor, with probably two main suppliers, Areva and Westinghouse, but of course it still hasn’t been decided. We could also have technology from Japan, Russia or Canada. But the European Pressurised Water reactor 1650 from Areva and the AP1000 from Westinghouse, these are good examples of the reactors we could use.

NucNet – How would you assess awareness of security of energy supply from a Polish perspective? As we know Poland is heavily reliant on coal, but how does nuclear now fit into the mix?

Zimek: This is interesting because there has been some evolution of the meaning in Poland. Traditionally, communities in the country have been convinced that coal is the best solution, the cheapest solution and the safest solution. This applies especially for people from Silesia, where much coal is produced. But even those people now understand that Polish coal is not the cheapest and other resources are declining. Now we need an energy mix in which we should have nuclear energy in certain amounts. There is no more discussion of nuclear energy as a problem, only of how fast we can go ahead with it. There are many reasons to go ahead with such a strategy. The programme should have been started much earlier. We have to replace electrical generators which are too old, and another problem is CO2, which is a big financial issue because of climate targets. It’s not just an environmental question.

Nuclear energy is included in our government energy policy now… permanently. It does not depend on whichever government [enters office]. There is a kind of acceptance that it is a solution. Not the universal solution, but at least some problems can be solved and we can achieve diversification [of energy sources]. This type of thinking is now more common.

NucNet – Where does acceptance of nuclear stand in Poland?

Zimek: Obviously after Chernobyl – like everywhere else, and not just Poland – people were against nuclear power, but lately society has been more convinced. According to a survey from May 2009, about 50 percent of Polish people accept nuclear power, 40 percent are against and 10 percent undecided. We need to continue providing information to society, especially to people living in rural and agricultural areas, and to the young generation, those aged 15 and above. There are discussions in Poland at the moment about a special programme designed to educate these sections of the population. Power stations have benefits and can activate local industries and employment. In Poland, at least 20 local communities have expressed an interest in having facilities nearby, so I think that with some effort in this area we will achieve a better result than just 50 percent. So in general, acceptance of nuclear power is up, but the issue of repositories for radioactive waste is a bigger problem as far as public acceptance is concerned.

NucNet – With respect to the future of nuclear: what programmes are coming into place to ensure that Poland retains its nuclear expertise and encourages younger professionals?

Zimek: I see a big role for the educational and training programmes that are being established by our government. There have been several developments because of the decision to go ahead with new nuclear. Firstly, some of our technical universities and several other universities in Poland have shown an interest in establishing a new nuclear educational programme for students. There will also have to be more training in nuclear technology for academic staff. This will be done partly through international cooperation. Already about 20 nuclear industry staff visited France for six weeks at the end of 2009 for training.

NucNet – The Polish Nuclear Society was founded in 1991, following a decision to stop construction at the Zarnowiec nuclear power plant. In January 2009 it was announced that two new nuclear power plants would be built, with the first one scheduled to begin commercial operation in 2020. In light of this decision, how has the role of the Polish Nuclear Society evolved?

Zimek: The Polish Nuclear Society was established as a national society after our nuclear power station projects were stopped following Chernobyl in 1986. Some professionals who were engaged in the Polish nuclear project decided to organise themselves and promote the idea of nuclear energy. It was in response to a decision – to stop our nuclear energy programme – which was not necessarily good for us in Poland. But of course it was a political decision. We were established in response to this, and during those years we were full of effort and activity, but it was difficult to persuade government and politicians about nuclear and we had a lot of trouble with this. Now we are in the mainstream and my colleagues are saying we need to change our role slightly because the idea of nuclear has been accepted. Now one of the basic tasks of our society is to support activities in the field of nuclear energy and provide information to the public.

NucNet – So following the new build announcement, how do you see the role of the Polish Nuclear Society and other institutions such as the Polish National Atomic Energy Agency?

Zimek: This important government decision is essentially a document devoted specifically to nuclear implementation in Poland. In view of the political debate and discussions on nuclear, we have recently taken part in conferences and seminars devoted to the subject, to provide information on the safety and technological aspects. Some discussions have been specifically centred on nuclear power, while others have related to nuclear in the broader sense with aspects such as medicine and industry. The existing Polish Atomic Energy Agency has a little bit of a different position because it concentrates more on supervision and safety issues.

NucNet – According to the Polish government’s timetable for nuclear energy a comprehensive basis for a nuclear energy programme should be adopted by the end of this year. Do you feel that Polish Energy Group (the national utility) is equipped to take the project forward beyond pre-investment analysis?

Zimek: Polish industry is clearly interested in taking part in this nuclear programme. It is not easy, because the investment will be made by the operators. But we should highlight the importance of this programme in stimulating our domestic industry and finding a place for local people though employment. However, it is too early to comment on what benefits are involved, and what level of participation Poland can achieve in this project.

In January 2005, Poland said it wanted to have the country’s first nuclear power plant in operation by 2021 or 2022. The government said it had begun consultations on a new energy policy for Poland up to the year 2030 and nuclear energy “features strongly”. Polish prime minister Donald Tusk said in November 2009 that decisions on potential investment partners for developing nuclear power in Poland would not be taken immediately.  He said Poland’s aim was to have its first nuclear reactor unit on line by 2020 followed by a second unit some five years later.

When Poland’s original nuclear programme was halted some 21 years ago, construction work was 60 percent completed on what was to be the country’s first nuclear power plant – the arnowiec plant on the Baltic coast, where there were plans for up to four Russian-origin VVER-440 units. The National Atomic Energy Agency said financial difficulties prompted the decision to stop building.

However, the Polish parliament left open the option of future nuclear development, using “a new generation of economic and ecologically safe reactors”.