October 9 Polish Nuclear Power Plantsm(PEJ), an investor in the project of the first Polish nuclear power plant in the Lubiatowo-Kopalino location, announced the completion of the first of three phases of adaptation to the requirements of the NQA-1 (Nuclear Quality Assurance – 1) standard, which is to ensure appropriate quality in nuclear energy supply chains and is a condition for participation in them. Six Polish companies are participating in the process coordinated by PEJ and conducted by Westinghouse Electric Company – co-contractor of the power plant in Pomerania. Two of them have just completed the first stage; Mostostal Siedlce, which produces steel structures, and Energomontaż Północ Gdynia, which originates from the shipbuilding industry. The second company belongs to the Baltic Industrial Group, which has already worked on nuclear energy, and recently we have extensively described its participation in the onshore and offshore industry.
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Three stages of implementation
According to the president of PEJ, Marek Woszczyk, quoted in the press release, the completion of the first phase of the process “is proof of the full and responsible involvement of representatives of the Polish industry in preparations for participation in our project.”
“This is a natural and necessary course of action, the aim of which is to permanently embed Polish companies in the international nuclear sector“- he added.
As representatives emphasize in their statement to our editorial office Westinghouse Polandthe NQA-1 standard developed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers is not “traditional standardization”, but a process in which companies must create their own quality programs with 18 chapters each. “These areas include, among others, company organization, dealing with non-compliance, audits and special processes,” says the co-contractor of the first nuclear power plant in Poland. The certification confirms that the products and services offered are safe and compliant with international standards in the nuclear sector. In practice, the first stage involves the preparation and implementation of quality procedures in areas such as design, device control, quality assurance, technical documentation and corrective actions.
Companies that have already completed the first stage of adaptation still have two more to go. In the Baltic Industrial Group, we hear that the company Energomontaż Północ-Gdynia, which has already constructed a reactor bowl for the Olkiluoto 3 power plant in Finland or dismantled the closed Superphénix power plant in France (“This is a unique experience that distinguishes us from other Polish companies and constitutes a solid base for participation in new nuclear investments in Poland and Europe,” boasts the Group in response to questions from Business Insider Polska), has already started the implementation of the second one. As part of it, he must prepare a detailed production plan, develop technological instructions and prepare workshop documentation.
“The last, third step will be to perform a so-called mock-up – a trial nuclear island module, which will be assessed by the client for compliance with the NQA-1 requirements,” he informs us. Baltic Industrial Group.
What's next? Successfully completing the three stages of implementing the requirements of the NQA-1 standard means entering the so-called Westinghouse Approved Supplier List. The companies listed there are officially qualified as potential contractors and suppliers of products and services nuclear projects companies not only in Poland, but also in Europe and around the world. Westinghouse Polska informs that over 20 Polish and foreign companies are currently at various stages of implementing the requirements. The American giant declares active support for Polish business. At the beginning of 2026, it also plans to start ordering the so-called elements with long lead times. “(…) specific tenders for these key components and services will be announced successively, in accordance with the project schedule, which envisages the start of the construction phase in 2026” – informs Westinghouse Polska.
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A hundred years of development?
What is the overall potential local contentor, according to the simplest definition, the contribution of domestic enterprises to the construction of the Polish nuclear power plant? According to Westinghouse Polska construction of the first power plant in Pomeranianot counting key suppliers with full NQA-1 certification, creates “huge opportunities for hundreds, if not thousands, companies throughout Poland.” The Americans declare that the involvement of the “local contribution” in the project developed in the Choczewo commune should ultimately reach the level of 60%. As the company states in response to our questions, the construction of the power plant together with the first 20 years of its operation is expected to increase Polish GDP by almost PLN 120 billionwith direct or indirect participation 200 thousand employees.
The greatest scope for involvement is created by investments around the “heart” of the power plant, i.e. the reactor and the nuclear island. Among them, Westinghouse Polska mentions, among others, the construction of a turbine hall, auxiliary buildings and the so-called supporting investments – construction of roads, railways or the so-called MOLF objects — marine structures for transporting elements of a future generation source. The Westinghouse-Bechtel construction consortium is to engage companies that are preparing to build structural modules, pumps, tanks, heat exchangers and valves today.
As for the construction of the reactor and the island, i.e. critical elements directly responsible for energy production, strict safety requirements and technological specificity do not allow significant participation of domestic companies today. “However, with the construction of subsequent blocks, we anticipate a systematic increase in their participation in this area as well, as they acquire the necessary certifications, experience and technology transfer” – forecasts Westinghouse Polska.
When it comes to the full time horizon of the economic benefits associated with nuclear energy, it may reach up to a century. Piotr Szelenbaum, legal advisor and Co-Managing Partner at the Fieldfisher Poland law firm, presented the matter this way in a statement for Business Insider Polska, which co-hosted in September workshops on local content in atom with the participation of, among others, the Ministry of State Assets and the Industrial Development Agency. — We must remember that the process of building a Polish nuclear facility takes at least 30 years, then 60 years of operation, and then years of the process of liquidation of the units. This gives us over a hundred years of predictable economic sector, allowing us to plan what the industrial needs will be during the various phases of this project – predicts the lawyer.
The global potential of Polish companies
“Poland and local companies may have significant European and even global importance,” Szelenbaum diagnoses, referring to the so-called renaissance of nuclear energy, i.e. increased interest in investments that are increasingly considered an essential component of zero-emission production mix.
— We know that in today's world the demand for electricity will increase. All this means that when implementing the first Polish nuclear power plant, we should formulate: strategic goals (…) we have a unique opportunity to create a completely new economic sector of at least continental importance – predicts.
In Piotr Szelenbaum's opinion, taking into account the participation of Polish companies should be an important element of the negotiations regarding the contract for the construction of the power plant, which Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, as an investor, started with the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium at the beginning of September. The agreement should favor our industry and enable the transfer of knowledge and technology. The lawyer notes a paradox – although increasing benefits for domestic business is in the interest of our country, PEJ is not obliged to take this issue into account.
— That is why urgent legal changes are so important, as they will impose on the investor the obligation to implement strategic goals when building the first Polish nuclear power plant. It is also necessary to define these goals so that they support the construction of a local supply chain – comments the representative Fieldfisher Poland. It recalls that EU law requires equal treatment of entities from Poland and other Member States; appropriate implementation of local content is therefore “a difficult but achievable task.”
Szelenbaum estimates the number of Polish companies with existing or rapidly developing competences needed in the development of nuclear energy at several hundred. — Naturally, construction companies have the greatest potential and should find it relatively easy to adapt to the requirements of this investment – says the lawyer, mentioning as an example turbines for generating electricity, in the construction of which Poland has considerable experience. Like Westinghouse Polska, it sees the acquisition of competences needed for nuclear technologies as a greater difficulty. At the same time, this area is the most promising.
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— Polish companies have potential, but they need support in adapting. And developing competences in this element of a nuclear power plant should be crucial for Polandbecause this will ensure gaining a competitive advantage and, consequently, provide the possibility of expansion and real construction nuclear sector operating for the needs of nuclear technology suppliers – adds the lawyer.
Opportunities for trillions of zlotys
In addition to regulations that would oblige the investor to co-implement the state's strategic goals, understood as increasing the share of Polish companies in nuclear energy, Szelenbaum also recommends financial and competence support for companies and assistance in preparing investment areas. As he says, entrepreneurs must learn how to operate complex supply chains, and assistance should also include adapting to the contractor's requirements.
— No rational entrepreneur will invest millions in adaptation without having a contract in hand, and he will not receive a contract if he does not meet the tender criteria – he notes.
Polish companies are eager to get involved in the construction of nuclear units, as evidenced by the presence of the Federation of Polish Entrepreneurs among the organizers of the September workshops on local content. Ambitions are not limited to cooperation only with Americans; The Baltic Industrial Group informs us about “advanced talks” conducted with the French EDF, a potential contractor second power plant. The Tri-City shipyard holding announces closer cooperation with a player from the Seine.
Piotr Szelenbaum says that together with SMR reactors by 2050, investments in Polish nuclear energy will amount to trillions of zlotys. — Even if only half of these funds will be used locally, we are talking about an unprecedented investment in Polish industry (…). However, the key issue is how the funds will be invested. If building a local supply chain is successful, we will become not only a local, but also a European nuclear hub – the representative of Fieldfisher Poland has a vision.
