
During an official visit to Warsaw, outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk signed a nuclear energy co-operation agreement. “Once in force, the Agreement will deepen ties between Canadian and Polish energy sectors, enabling Canadian companies to apply their nuclear expertise to support Poland’s energy transition and enhance energy security for Poland and the region,” according to a statement on the website of the Canadian Prime Minister.
“It will create good well-paying jobs and opportunities for people on both sides of the Atlantic, while reinforcing Canada and Poland’s shared commitment to nuclear co-operation, non-proliferation, safety, and security. This collaboration will help Poland enhance its clean energy sector and accelerate its efforts to phase out coal from its energy mix.”
The statement said the agreement complements other initiatives to strengthen Canada and Poland’s bilateral relationship, including the General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA) signed earlier in January. “Once implemented, the GSOIA will enhance information sharing between Canada and Poland and create business opportunities for companies in industries such as defence, security, aerospace, marine, and nuclear.”
The Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA) said the agreement will open new avenues for Canadian nuclear expertise to support Poland’s energy transition. “By enabling Canadian companies to provide world-class nuclear technology, fuel, and services, this partnership will help Poland enhance its clean energy sector, accelerate its coal phase-out, and bolster energy security across the region.”
CNA Interim President & CEO George Christidis said nuclear energy is a cornerstone of Canada’s commitment to global energy security. “This agreement with Poland exemplifies how Canada can support our allies in building resilient, low-carbon energy systems while fostering economic growth and innovation.” By facilitating the export of Canadian nuclear technology, the agreement will generate high-quality jobs and drive investment in Canada’s nuclear sector, ensuring long-term economic benefits at home while supporting energy resilience abroad.
According to the Polish Government website, the signing of the document was preceded by a meeting of delegations from both countries. The Minister of Industry Marzena Czarnecka, as well as the Deputy Minister, Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure Wojciech Wrochna. The document provides, among others providing nuclear technologies for peaceful purposes related to research, nuclear safety or the use of nuclear materials, as well as in the implementation of research and development projects.
“The agreement strengthens the legal framework for the development of nuclear industries, opens the door to greater involvement of Polish entities in the development of modern energy technologies. It is important for achieving the goals of energy transformation.”
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told a press conference: “The main technology supplier for our first nuclear power plant, which we are just starting to build, is Westinghouse. Its owners are Canadian companies, which further strengthens our cooperation. This agreement is strategic for us.” Westinghouse was acquired in 2023 by Canada’s Cameco (49%) in a strategic partnership with Brookfield Asset Management and its affiliate Brookfield Renewable Partners and institutional partners (51%).
In 2022, the Polish government selected Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania. In May 2023 Westinghouse, Bechtel and Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ – a 100% owned by Poland’s State Treasury) signed an agreement setting out a plan for plant delivery. PEJ then signed the Engineering Services Contract (ESC) Westinghouse and Bechtel for design the NPP. The aim was for the first of three AP1000 units to begin commercial operation in 2033 but this was late deferred to 2036.
In December 2024, PEJ received a letter of intent from Export Development Canada, for up to CAD2.02bn ($1.45bn) to potentially support Poland’s first NPP with respect to of the sale of goods and services by Canadian suppliers.
Polish co-operation with Canada also extends to small nuclear reactors (SMRs) In 2023, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the National Atomic Energy Agency of Poland signed a memorandum of understanding SMRs, anticipating increased exchanges on best practices and technical reviews related to SMR technology.
Canada expects to be the first G7 country to have an operational SMR by 2029. A GE-Hitachi BWRX-300 is under development by Ontario Power Generation at its Darlington Nuclear Station, and Poland plans to deploy the same SMR technology. Tusk noted that SMR technology may prove to be a particularly promising area of cooperation, adding that there are plans to transfer cooperation in this area from the level of declarations to the level of specific actions.