- Bechtel has taken over site management duties for Poland’s first nuclear power project
- The company will oversee contractor activities, operations and site safety
- Polish firms are playing a growing role in project preparation and construction efforts
Bechtel will serve as site manager for Poland’s first nuclear power plant after Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, or PEJ, transferred responsibility for managing construction activities at the project site. The facility is part of Poland’s strategy to strengthen long-term energy security, the company said Friday.
What Will Bechtel Oversee at the Construction Site?
Bechtel will supervise contractor coordination, oversee construction work, manage day-to-day operations and enforce safety protocols at the 300-hectare Choczewo site in Pomerania as initial earthworks get underway.
Planned site work includes terrain grading and drainage upgrades. Bechtel will also oversee the development of temporary project infrastructure, including offices, warehouses, logistics areas, equipment maintenance zones and a 16-kilometer temporary road network.
How Is Polish Industry Involved?
The effort aims to boost economic growth by expanding opportunities for Polish businesses. Bechtel selected Budimex to carry out site preparation work and previously entered into agreements with Polish firms DORACO and Unihouse. According to the company, PEJ has awarded contracts to approximately 475 Polish businesses since 2020.
The project is expected to generate more jobs as site work ramps up. Currently, the project involves a workforce of more than 400, with about a third hired in Poland. Bechtel recently opened an office in Gdansk that is expected to employ about 200 people, with most positions intended to be filled locally.
Ed Gore, Bechtel project director, said the company is focused on advancing the project safely while working with Polish partners as initial construction activities move forward.
The site management transition follows earlier development work on the AP1000 project. In 2025, PEJ, Westinghouse and Bechtel signed an engineering development agreement covering design, procurement and regulatory activities. The project builds on Poland’s earlier commitment to invest roughly $15.7 billion in the facility, which is expected to be operational by 2033. The Lubiatowo-Kopalino plant will be equipped with three Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactor units.
