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Orlen SAPoland in talks with US about increasing LNG supplies for domestic needs and for CEE region
Latest talks with the US included the potential for increasing American LNG supplies through the Polish gas hub for domestic needs and to make Central European countries, including Ukraine, independent of supplies from the East, Poland's Ministry of Energy (ME) wrote in a statement following the Polish delegation's visit to Washington.
Poland's delegation also discussed the contract for the construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant and competitive dialogue concerning the second nuclear power plant were also discussed.
"During a series of meetings with representatives of US Energy Department, including joint talks with [Poland's] Finance Minister Andrzej Domanski and Secretary Chris Wright, the status of negotiations on the contract for the construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant was discussed in detail," the energy ministry reported.
"The contractors for the investment will be leading American companies in the civil nuclear energy sector – Westinghouse and Bechtel. Issues related to competitive dialogue in the context of selecting a strategic partner for the second power plant under the Polish Nuclear Energy Programme were also raised," it added.
The ministry pointed out that another important topic of discussion was the potential for increasing US LNG supplies through the Polish gas hub, both for domestic needs and to make Central European countries, including Ukraine, independent of supplies from the East.
As reported by the ME, finance minister Andrzej Domanski and the deputy minister of energy and the government representative for strategic energy infrastructure Wojciech Wrochna also met with the CEO of U.S. EXIM Bank to confirm the role of the American bank as the most important financial institution involved in financing the construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant to ensure the smooth processing of formalities related to granting a loan to the 100-percent state-owned special purpose vehicle PEJ.
Poland's energy ministry added that detailed talks were also held by deputy minister Wrochna, together with the management of PEJ and a consortium of Westinghouse and Bechtel, on "the fundamental expectations of the Polish side and the principles shaping the contract currently being negotiated for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Lubiatowo-Kopalino."
Representatives of Poland's largest energy concern Orlen and leading American gas companies discussed LNG supplies through Poland.
Polish delegation visited Washington to attend the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
jz/ ao/ han/
