SNC-Lavalin Polska and GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy to collaborate on new projects in Poland

SNC-Lavalin is pleased to announce that SNC-Lavalin Polska SP. Zo.o. has signed a preliminary agreement with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) to work together to evaluate new nuclear power plant opportunities in Poland.

Poland plans to build up to four new nuclear power plants at two sites to help diversify its energy production, which relies heavily on coal-based technologies. Nuclear energy is an attractive option because it generates electricity with near-zero greenhouse gas emissions. This first phase of the evaluation process that is being employed by Poland’s largest power company, Polska Grupa Energetyczna SA (PGE), is to study different international nuclear generating technologies in order to select a viable one.

This is further to a recent agreement between GEH and PGE to collaborate on Poland’s initiative to build next-generation commercial nuclear power plants.

“We are pleased to be working with GE Hitachi on this important project, and this agreement aligns very well with SNC-Lavalin’s strategy to build on our 40 years of experience in executing nuclear new-build projects worldwide,” said Patrick Lamarre, Executive Vice-President SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. “It also further demonstrates our proven ability to execute power projects internationally using a local delivery solution.”

SNC-Lavalin Polska and GEH are continuing discussions in support of PGE as the utility evaluates the potential of building up to four reactors based on one of two GEH reactor designs: the 1,350-MWe Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) or the 1,520-MWe Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR). ESBWR is GEH’s newest design offering the world’s most advanced passive safety systems.

“SNC-Lavalin has been working steadily in Poland for the last 12 years, and in Central and Eastern Europe since the 1960s in multiple product lines,” said Krzysztof Michalczuk, President of SNC-Lavalin Polska’s Warsaw-based Power Division headquarters. “We are very happy to have the opportunity to be part of this new initiative, and we will continue to grow the SNC-Lavalin Poland office well into the future.”

Recently SNC-Lavalin Polska successfully completed the new Patnow 460 MW Supercritical Steam Generating unit located at Konin in Poland.

SNC-Lavalin (TSX:SNC) is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure, and in the provision of operations and maintenance services. SNC-Lavalin has offices across Canada and in over 35 other countries around the world, and is currently working in some 100 countries. www.snclavalin.com.

Source: CNW

Canada & India Plan to Sign Free Trade Agreement

Canada plans to sign a free trade agreement with India and help New Delhi expand its civil nuclear energy sector, its trade minister said on Tuesday.

Canadian firms including federally owned Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd., Cameco Corp. and SNC-Lavalin are eager to forge joint ventures or work with Indian firms to help build billion-dollar nuclear reactors and supply uranium, Stockwell Day told Reuters in an interview.

A major uranium producer, Canada lifted a ban on trade in nuclear products with India after New Delhi signed a landmark civil nuclear deal with the United States last year.

“India has defined the need for maybe 25-30 reactors and we can be part of this plan,” Mr. Day said.

India, which industry bodies say will need investment of about $150 billion over the next 15 years to help it bridge a power shortfall, has seen a rush of global companies on its shores since the U.S. deal was signed, ending 30 years of nuclear isolation. Read more