The Atlantic Council—in partnership with the Nuclear Energy Institute and Orlen Synthos Green Energy—is pleased to host a private workshop in Warsaw on SMR technologies for industrial transformation and energy security in Poland and the CEE region. The Warsaw Workshop will take place on Thursday, April 4th, from 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM CET, at the Bristol Hotel (Krakowskie Przedmieście 42/44, 00-325, Warsaw, Poland).
The twin challenges of energy security and decarbonization have led many countries to pursue civil nuclear programs, and Poland—which already has a research reactor and regulator—is a global leader among emerging nuclear markets. Small modular reactors (SMRs) hold the potential to repower retired coal plants, produce process heat, and provide energy for off-grid applications like hydrogen production. This workshop will address the geopolitics of SMRs in Poland, the decarbonization imperative, and challenges and opportunities in building thriving nuclear energy ecosystems and supply chains.
Please note that this event is private and off the record.
If you have any questions about this event, please do not hesitate to contact Amy Drake at adrake@atlanticcouncil.org.
Agenda
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Keynote remarks
The Hon. Mark Brzezinski, Ambassador of the United States to Poland, US Embassy and Consulate in Poland
Michael Goff, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of Energy
9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Panel Discussion: Nuclear energy and geopolitics
Adam DeMella, Senior Advisor, GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Aleshia Duncan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Nuclear Energy Policy and Cooperation, Office of Nuclear Energy, US Department of Energy
Rafał Kasprów, Chief Executive Officer, Orlen Synthos Green Energy
John Kotek, Senior Vice President of Policy Development and Public Affairs, Nuclear Energy Institute
MODERATED BY
Jennifer Gordon, Director, Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative, Atlantic Council
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Coffee break
10:45 – 11:00 a.m. Orlen Synthos Green Energy Video
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. Fireside Chat: The strategic importance of the US SMR fleet in Central and Eastern Europe
The Hon. Daniel Poneman, Distinguished Fellow, Global Energy Center and Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council
Michał Sołowow, Developer and Shareholder, Orlen Synthos Green Energy
MODERATED BY
Olga Khakova, Deputy Director, Atlantic Council Global Energy Center
11:30 – 12:30 p.m. Panel Discussion: Nuclear energy finance and ecosystems
Agnes Dasewicz, Chief Operating Officer and Head of Investments, US International Development Finance Corporation
Justin Friedman, Senior Advisor for Commercial Competitiveness in Nuclear Energy, US Department of State
Raj Verma, Vice President and Managing Director of Eastern Europe, Laurentis Energy Partners
Tadeusz Woszczyński, Country Manager Poland, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Baltics, Hitachi
MODERATED BY
David Ensor, Senior Policy Advisor, Orlen Synthos Green Energy
12:30– 1:30 p.m. Networking lunch
1:30– 2:00 p.m. Fireside chat: Building Canada’s first SMR
Greg Thede, Vice President, Nuclear Strategy, Business Services and US Operations, Aecon, Group Inc.
2:00– 3:00 p.m. Panel discussion: Deploying small modular reactors globally and at scale
Donald Hoffman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Excel Services Corporation
Rob Rudich, Energy Attaché and Director, Department of Energy Office, US Embassy and Consulate in Poland
Cole Simons, Managing Director of Government Affairs and Policy, GE Vernova
Greg Thede, Vice President, Nuclear Strategy, Business Services and US Operations, Aecon, Group Inc.
Rumina Velshi, Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
MODERATED BY
Jennifer Gordon, Director, Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative, Atlantic Council
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