Timeline for Polish nuclear units slips in updated programme

In September 2021, it was announced that six large pressurised water reactors with a combined installed capacity of 6-9 GWe could be built by 2040 as part of the country's plan to reduce its reliance on coal. According to the adopted schedule, the construction of the first nuclear power plant would start in 2026, with the first reactor - with a capacity of 1.0-1.6 GWe - being commissioned in 2033. Subsequent units would be implemented every 2-3 years. The coastal towns of Lubiatowo and Kopalino in Poland's Choczewo municipality in the province of Pomerania were named as the preferred location for the country's first large nuclear power plant.

In November 2022, the Polish government announced the first plant, with a capacity of 3,750 MWe, would be built in Pomerania using Westinghouse's AP1000 technology. An agreement setting a plan for the delivery of the plant was signed in May 2023 by Westinghouse, Bechtel and Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ).

The updated programme includes the construction of two nuclear power plants with a total capacity of up to 9 GWe, human resources and infrastructure development, increasing the participation of domestic industry, and strengthening the nuclear regulatory system. The adopted document outlines timelines for the construction of the first and second nuclear power plants, as well as key assumptions for the implementation of the second plant.

"The update of the PPEJ takes into account the changes that have affected the European energy market in recent years - from the energy crisis and Russia's aggression against Ukraine to the growing demand of industry for predictable and low-emission energy," the Ministry of Energy said.

The ministry said the update provides increased funding for tasks related to the implementation of nuclear energy: support for building competencies in the field of nuclear energy, support for the participation of Polish industry in the Polish Nuclear Power Programme, and strengthening the nuclear regulatory institution, that is, the National Atomic Energy Agency (NAEA). It noted support for the NAEA constitutes the largest financial component of the Polish Nuclear Power Programme, which is particularly important as it will contribute to increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the licensing process and ensuring an adequate level of national nuclear safety and radiological protection for Polish citizens.

Revised timeline

For the project to construct the first plant - for which preparatory work at the construction site and the implementation of accompanying infrastructure is under way - PLN60.2 billion (USD15.4 billion) has been allocated for the project's recapitalisation between 2025 and 2030. The financing model assumes a combination of equity and debt financing supported by domestic and international institutions.

Under the updated programme, the first unit is now scheduled to start commercial operation in 2036, and the plant expected to reach full capacity by 2038 - three years later than previously planned.

In parallel, work is under way to build a second nuclear power plant with Bełchatów and Konin remaining the preferred locations. The final location selection will be made by the investor after detailed analyses and field studies.

The ministry said a competitive dialogue is under way to select a technology supplier and project contractor. The USA, France, and Canada have joined the process. "The goal is to select a comprehensive offer encompassing both technology and project financing under the best possible terms," it said. Key milestones for the second power plant are: the selection of strategic partner and technology in 2027; construction to start around 2032; and the first unit to start up around 2040 – one year behind the previous schedule.

Priority areas

"One of the priorities remains the construction of a strong domestic supply chain that will allow Polish companies to participate both in the implementation of domestic nuclear projects and in investments carried out on foreign markets, the ministry said. "It is estimated that Polish companies could contribute approximately 40% of the project's value during the construction of the first reactor. With the development of subsequent units, as expertise, experience, and the number of certified companies grow, this share could rise to approximately 70%."

The update to the programme indicates key areas of state action to ensure effective implementation of the programme: development of staff and competences for the nuclear sector; development of transmission infrastructure; increasing the share of domestic industry; strengthening the nuclear and technical supervision system; radioactive waste management; and communication and social education.

"These activities are intended to create a lasting foundation for the operation of nuclear energy in Poland and prepare the country for the implementation of further nuclear projects in the future," the ministry said.

Alongside the government's nuclear power programme, in October 2022, Poland's Ministry of State Assets, South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, ZE PAK and PGE, and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power signed a letter of intent to develop plans for a nuclear power plant in Pątnów. PGE PAK Energia Jądrowa - a 50/50 joint venture special purpose vehicle formed in April 2023 by ZE PAK and PGE to implement the project - submitted an application for the plant to the Ministry of Climate and Environment in August 2023. The application included a description of project characteristics, indicating the maximum installed capacity, the planned operating period and details of the APR1400 technology to be used in the construction of the plant. In November 2023, Poland's Ministry of Climate and Environment issued a decision-in-principle for the plant. Last October, state-owned public power company PGE signed a preliminary agreement to become the sole shareholder of PGE PAK Energia Jądrowa SA by acquiring the 50% stake held by ZE PAK.

There are also plans, led by SGE, for a fleet of as many as 26 BWRX-300 small modular reactors in Poland.