News - World: The United States’ Westinghouse Electric Company has been granted a multi-billion-euro contract to build Poland's first-ever nuclear power plant as Warsaw seeks new energy sources to replace Russian gas.

"We confirm our nuclear energy project will use the reliable, safe technology of [Westinghouse]," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Friday wrote on Twitter.

The United States’ Westinghouse Electric Company has been granted a multi-billion-euro contract to build Poland's first-ever nuclear power plant as Warsaw seeks new energy sources to replace Russian gas.

"We confirm our nuclear energy project will use the reliable, safe technology of [Westinghouse]," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Friday wrote on Twitter.

US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm followed suit, calling the contract a "huge step in strengthening our relationship with Poland for future generations to come."

Granholm added that building the nuclear power plant will enable Warsaw to gain independence from Russia in regard to energy.

"I think it sends a clear message to Russia that the Atlantic alliance stands together to diversify our energy supply... and to resist Russian weaponization of energy," Granholm said.

Granholm also said the contract will create or sustain more than 100,000 jobs for American workers.

A senior US government official told reporters that the Poland nuclear deal will define "interdependent security for decades to come."

Prior to this contract, Poland had threatened to veto any formal plan obliging the European Union’s member to cut gas consumption if such a plan is approved in a “qualified majority” vote not a unanimous one.

EU member states had agreed to reduce gas consumption by 15 percent as concerns mounted over the EU's gas and electricity supplies during the winter months.

"In an effort to increase EU security of energy supply, member states today reached a political agreement on a voluntary reduction of natural gas demand by 15 percent this winter," the European Council said in a statement about their agreement in July.

Up to a quarter of the EU's electricity is generated in power plants that burn natural gas.

In 2021, the EU had imported about 60 percent of the energy it consumed, with 40 percent of that coming from Russia. Natural gas made up the largest proportion of this Russian supply at 41 percent of total consumption. Oil made up a further 36 percent and coal 20 percent.

Source: Press TV