France, Poland sign nuclear cooperation accord
PARIS, Nov 5 (Reuters) - France and Poland signed a technical cooperation accord in nuclear power on Thursday but Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it was too early to say whether French firms would be partners in its planned reactor.
Under the agreement, signed during a visit to Paris by Polish ministers, France will offer help training technicians and in research and development.
Tusk said France had "taken a big step forward" with the agreement but it was too early to say what nuclear technology Poland would finally adopt for the reactor it plans to build by 2020.
"Decisions on the choice of investors and partners are a long way ahead of us," he told reporters during a news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. "France is a valuable partner but probably not unique."
Poland wants to build one or two nuclear power plants to break its reliance on coal and intends to identify a technology supplier by 2013.
The plant is to be built by state-owned utility PGE in cooperation with the partner.
Discussions have already been held with France, the United States, Canada, South Korea and Japan. (Reporting by Yann Le Guernigou; Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Keiron Henderson)
