Japan's Toshiba has signed a memorandum of understanding with two Polish companies to explore collaboration in equipment supply and maintenance services for Poland's first nuclear power plant.
The MoU was signed between Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions (Toshiba ESS) and its affiliate Toshiba International (Europe) Ltd (TIL) and Rockfin sp zoo - a manufacturer of auxiliary equipment for steam turbines and generators - and EthosEnergy Poland SA - a provider of maintenance services.
Toshiba ESS and TIL recently initiated another step to advance the project and establish a supply chain in Poland by closing collaborative arrangements with Rockfin and EthosEnergy. Toshiba said the next step forward will include detailed discussions between the four parties on the scope of collaboration.
"We are delighted to announce the signing of an MoU with Rockfin and EthosEnergy, and in doing so creating a strong potential collaboration for Poland's first nuclear project," said Shinya Fujitsuka, director and vice president of Toshiba ESS. "We are dedicated to contributing to energy sustainability, enhanced energy security, and to protecting the global environment through our nuclear energy business."
Toshiba ESS said it has "a wealth of experience and advanced technical capabilities in the nuclear domain", including plant construction and maintenance, and support for plant restarts, decommissioning, and dismantlement. The company is also engaged in fuel cycle management and the development of future energy sources, including next-generation and fast reactors. Toshiba - known for its expertise in steam turbines and generators for nuclear power plants, as well as primary cycle systems for nuclear reactors - was involved in the Vogtle project in the USA and the Barakah project in the UAE.
"We are proud to announce that we have signed an MoU with Toshiba ESS," Rockfin said. "This partnership is a significant step forward in the implementation of the new Polish AP1000 nuclear project in Lubiatowo-Kopalina.
"This collaboration highlights our shared commitment to innovation and excellence in the nuclear sector. We are excited to leverage our combined strengths to drive significant progress and deliver sustainable energy solutions for Poland's future."
Rockfin noted that it recently supplied auxiliary turbine equipment to the Hinkley Point C project in the UK and the Akkuyu project in Turkey.
In November 2022, the then Polish government selected the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania in northern Poland. An agreement setting a plan for the delivery of the plant was signed in May last year by Westinghouse, Bechtel and Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ). The Ministry of Climate and Environment in July issued a decision-in-principle for PEJ to construct the plant. The aim is for Poland's first AP1000 reactor to enter commercial operation in 2033.
Under an engineering services agreement signed in September last year, in cooperation with PEJ, Westinghouse and Bechtel will finalise a site-specific design for a plant featuring three AP1000 reactors. The design/engineering documentation includes the main components of the power plant: the nuclear island, the turbine island and the associated installations and auxiliary equipment, as well as administrative buildings and infrastructure related to the safety of the facility. The contract also involves supporting the investment process and bringing it in line with current legal regulations in cooperation with the PAA and the Office of Technical Inspection.
In June 2022, Toshiba ESS announced that it and its US affiliate, Toshiba America Energy Systems Company, had reached an agreement with Bechtel to collaborate on the supply of steam turbines and generators for Poland's first nuclear power plant.
