Another Polish company has secured a major contract in the project to build Poland’s first nuclear power plant. Bechtel, the main contractor for Poland’s first nuclear power plant and a partner in the Bechtel-Westinghouse consortium, has signed an agreement with Polish company Polimex Mostostal for the supply, installation and commissioning of two large-scale Module Assembly Buildings (MABs) as part of the AP1000 project in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania.
The nuclear power plant is a pillar of our energy security, but also one of the most important industrial projects for the future of the Polish economy. Its scale creates space for the development of industry, highly specialized services and competences. That is why we are consistently working for the widest possible participation of Polish enterprises – not only in the implementation of the current investment, but also in building their sustainable competitiveness. Today's contract shows that the domestic supply chain is already strengthening: Polish companies are gaining orders, experience and competences in one of the most demanding technological projects. We want the capital built up at the first Polish power plant to continue to work – on subsequent investments and on foreign markets. This is the long-term value that we want to leave to the Polish economy.
Polimex Mostostal will create a key element of production and assembly facilities for the construction of three nuclear units commissioned by Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe. The contract includes a full range of engineering services, m.in. development of design documentation for the purposes of obtaining the necessary permits, as well as the supply of materials, structural assembly, tests, acceptance and final handover of both objects.
The construction of two Modular Assembly Buildings as tall as a 12-story office building, with a footprint larger than a football field, is an almost unprecedented project in Poland. There are only a few comparable facilities in the country, but these will be the first where elements of the nuclear island weighing more than 1,000 tons will be assembled. This makes the contract particularly significant, as it is the first one directly supporting the construction of the nuclear area of the power plant.
Polimex Mostostal is another Polish company that, in line with the principles of competitiveness and the contractor’s requirements, has secured a significant contract as part of the Polish nuclear power plant project. As the investor behind this flagship project for Pomerania and Poland, we place great importance on meaningful participation of domestic companies. Polish companies are already responsible for key activities being carried out at the site of our investment. Many Polish businesses have the necessary experience and know-how, and we intend to continue leveraging their potential.
Key importance of the MABs for AP1000 technology
The project led by PEJ is based on Westinghouse’s Generation III+ technology, whose distinguishing feature compared with traditional large-scale nuclear power plants is its advanced modular design. The reactor building and systems consist of dozens of prefabricated steel-concrete structural and mechanical modules. The largest modules, such as the 1,000-ton CA01 module, will be assembled in the temporary MABs located next to the construction site.
Inside the MABs to be constructed by Polimex Mostostal, structural and mechanical modules, as well as containment rings and the containment dome, along with shield building panels, will be assembled. Due to their size and weight, which can reach hundreds of tons, these components cannot be transported in their entirety from manufacturing facilities. The modules will therefore be assembled in enclosed MABs located directly adjacent to the units under construction.
Conducting the work in a clean, controlled environment provides significantly greater assurance of meeting the stringent requirements of the nuclear sector, carrying out non-destructive testing (NDT) of welds, pressure tests, and precise surveying and certification before the completed modules are lifted by the high-capacity ring crane and placed on the unit’s foundation mat. In addition, modular construction reduces congestion among workers in the open construction area and shortens the work schedule.
Polimex Mostostal’s involvement in the construction of Poland’s first nuclear power plant is of particular importance to our Group. This project allows us to leverage the expertise we have developed over more than 80 years while delivering some of the most demanding industrial and infrastructure projects, while also strengthening our position as a company actively participating in the next stage of Poland’s energy transition. It is also significant that we are participating in a project being delivered in accordance with the highest standards applicable to the nuclear sector. The construction of the MABs will be an important element of preparations for one of the most significant energy projects in Poland’s history. We are pleased that, as a Polish company, we can cooperate on this undertaking with such an experienced partner as Bechtel and actively support the development of Polish industry and the strengthening of the country’s energy security.
Technical specifications and equipment of the MABs:
- Dimensions: Both facilities will have impressive dimensions: 129 meters in length, 55 m in width and 44 m in height.
- Structure: The facilities will be found on reinforced concrete piles and concrete columns. A reinforced concrete slab will support a structural steel load-bearing structure, enclosed by a sealed envelope made of sandwich panels and a roofing system.
- Working conditions inside the MABs: Fully climate-controlled conditions will protect welding and assembly processes from precipitation, wind and extreme temperatures, enabling work to continue around the clock.
- Lifting equipment: Each MAB will be equipped with three overhead cranes – two with a rated lifting capacity of 125 tons and one with a lifting capacity of 60 tons, designed for the precise handling of components.
Growing participation of Polish companies in preparations for the construction of the nuclear power plant
The signing of the agreement between Bechtel and Polimex Mostostal is another example of Polish industry’s involvement in the construction of the nuclear power plant in Pomerania. This year alone, as part of efforts to build the supply chain and support Polish industry, more than 10 major contracts with Polish subcontractors, as well as a number of smaller agreements, have been concluded for the Lubiatowo-Kopalino nuclear power plant project.