National Atomic Energy Agency

– we have been cooperating with US NRC for more than 12 years. In view of the preparation for the implementation of the Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PPEJ) and our great responsibility in this process, we continue to enhance out competence – the PAA President emphasised. Our visit to the US was held from 29 August to 2 September 2022. PAA delegation also met up with the representatives of the US Department of State and the Department of Energy. Polish experts learned about the operation of the NRC Technical Training Center in Chattanooga and were also invited to see the construction of Vogtle 3 and 4 units in Georgia. PAA delegation also had the opportunity to see the control room simulators for Vogtle 3 and 4 reactors where the engine room personnel is regularly trained.

During the visit to the US, Dr Łukasz Młynarkiewicz also met up with Ann Ganzer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Non-proliferation Policy in the Bureau of International Security and Non-proliferation at the Department of State. The parties discussed the situation in Ukraine and the planned construction of nuclear power plants in Poland, including small modular reactors (SMR).

PAA President also talked to Dr Kathryn Huff, Assistant Secretary for the Office of Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy.

In July 2022, six experts from the PAA and the Office of Technical Inspection returned from a 3-month on-the-job training (OJT) in the US. The participants were expanding their knowledge in licensing and oversight of NPP. OJT in the US was implemented in cooperation with the NRC with the support of the IAEA. The programme also included specialist training in the NRC Technical Training Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. PAA is planning successive OJT in the US – the second round for PAA staff will start this September.

The American delegation paid a visit to Poland last year. The meeting with Christopher Hanson was held in Warsaw last November. The cooperation between Poland and the US is one of the elements of PAA’s international activity. PAA cooperates with foreign nuclear regulators in nuclear safety, security and radiation protection. In addition to sharing experience in regulatory activities, currently one of the objectives of the contacts with international partners is to develop capacity through recruitment and special training programme for new staff. 

These activities form part of the PAA’s preparation for the implementation of regulatory tasks under the Polish Nuclear Power Programme. PAA will be supervising the construction of NPP in Poland. PAA President will be performing his functions through the entire life cycle of the NPP, starting from the IA and siting, through design, construction, commissioning, operation to decommissioning. His role will be to verify and confirm that the investor fulfils the nuclear safety and radiation protection requirements.