September 23, 2026
Bechtel-Westinghouse Consortium and PEJ Agree on Main Commercial Terms for Poland’s First Nuclear Power Plant
Agreement puts American nuclear expertise to work in Poland and delivers jobs and contracts for Polish companies
Poland’s first nuclear power plant took another major step forward. The Bechtel-Westinghouse consortium and Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) have agreed on the main commercial terms of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract. The plant will use Westinghouse AP1000® reactor technology.
The agreement marks an important step toward signing the EPC contract, with both parties committed to completing negotiations by the end of the year and building on the strong momentum achieved to date. The program brings together American reactor technology and an American engineering and construction team, working with Polish industry on one of Europe’s most important energy infrastructure projects.
“This agreement reflects the momentum we’ve built with PEJ, and it’s a vote of confidence in American nuclear technology and know-how,” said Dena Volovar, President of Bechtel’s Nuclear, Security & Environmental business. “Bechtel has designed, built, or supported 150 nuclear power plants over 80 years, and we recently completed the most modern AP1000 units in the United States. Using modern execution tools to drive efficient delivery, we’re bringing that experience to Poland, and we’re building local capability as we go. By the time this plant is running, Polish companies and Polish workers will be part of a nuclear industry that can compete for decades.”
“PEJ and the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium have agreed on the main terms of the contract for the construction of the first Polish nuclear power plant, which provides the basis for further, detailed negotiations regarding the remaining terms of cooperation under the EPC Contract,” said Marek Woszczyk, President of Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe. “The American Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium will be responsible for the construction of the facility, with the first electricity to the Polish grid from the power plant to flow in 2036.”
Continued Momentum
The program is hitting its milestones. And work is moving forward at the site in the Lubiatowo-Kopalino location in Choczewo commune:
- PEJ handed over the project site to Bechtel in August.
- The second stage of preparatory work is underway including grading and leveling the site, upgrading drainage systems, and constructing temporary roads to support future development.
- In-depth geological surveys are being carried out.
- In March, PEJ applied to Poland’s State Atomic Energy Agency for a construction permit. PEJ plans to apply for a building permit next year.
The project continues to award contracts to Polish companies for key site work, including Budimex, Doraco, Unihouse, MSA Security and Barg M.B Gdańsk. More contracts with Polish subcontractors are expected soon, which will keep the project on pace and bring more Polish companies into its delivery.
Experience That Reduces Risk
Few organizations have Bechtel’s range of EPC nuclear experience. At Plant Vogtle in Georgia, Bechtel and Westinghouse completed the first new nuclear units built in the United States in more than three decades. The second AP1000 unit was built 30 percent more efficiently than the first. Bechtel and Westinghouse are applying what they learned, along with the processes and workforce practices behind them, to Poland. For PEJ, that means a team that has successfully delivered this exact reactor technology.
Economic Benefits for Poland
Bechtel is building a local team and a local supply chain from the start. The program already includes:
- Nearly 200 Polish nationals on the project team, with 100 in the recruitment process.
- More than PLN 1 billion (USD 250 million) in contracts awarded to Polish companies.
- Staff-development agreements with three Polish universities.
Contracts awarded so far, from site preparation to civil works, bring investment and skilled jobs straight into Polish communities and the Polish supply chain. Each new subcontract adds to that. Polish firms will be positioned to deliver this plant and this will enable them to compete for nuclear work across the region.
American Leadership in Global Nuclear Energy
Countries building new nuclear capacity are choosing long-term partners, not just technology. Poland chose a U.S. partnership, and that choice strengthens energy security in Poland and across Europe. It also shows that American companies are well equipped to deliver advanced nuclear projects for allies around the world.
The plant will have three AP1000 reactors with a total capacity of 3,750 MWe. Together, strong commercial progress, local investment and proven American expertise are driving the first nuclear power plant in Poland forward. The plant will deliver clean, reliable power, strengthen Poland’s energy security and make Poland a new center of nuclear industry in Central Europe.
About Bechtel
Bechtel is a trusted engineering, construction and project management partner to industry and government. Differentiated by the quality of our people and our relentless drive to deliver the most successful outcomes, we align our capabilities to our customers’ objectives to create a lasting positive impact. Since 1898, we have helped customers complete more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents that have created jobs, grown economies, improved the resiliency of the world’s infrastructure, increased access to energy, resources, and vital services, and made the world a safer, cleaner place.
Bechtel serves the Energy; Infrastructure; Manufacturing & Technology; Mining & Metals; and Nuclear, Security & Environmental markets. Our services span from initial planning and investment, through start-up and operations. www.bechtel.com