Poland updates nuclear strategy with delays to launch of first two plants
The updated nuclear strategy targets up to 9 GW of capacity and a bigger role for Polish industry in future projects.
Poland has revised its nuclear strategy after six years, acknowledging that the country's first nuclear power plant will be operational by 2036, a three-year delay compared to previous plans. The second plant is set for completion in 2040, one year later than initially scheduled. These delays have been foreseen, as Poland is currently behind the timeline established by the previous Law and Justice (PiS) government in 2020.
However, the current administration remains optimistic that nuclear power will contribute significantly to a diversified energy mix, providing around 15-16% of electricity generation by 2040. Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka emphasized that this strategy not only aims to expand nuclear capacity but also to foster a robust Polish nuclear industry.
The updated Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PPEJ) projects the development of two nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 6-9 GW, utilizing Generation III+ reactors. The first plant, with a capacity of approximately 3.75 GW, is being constructed in partnership with an American consortium comprising Westinghouse and Bechtel in Choczewo on the Baltic coast.
Preparatory work at the site has already commenced, and the European Commission approved Polish state aid for the project in 2025, with a total investment of 60.2 billion zloty (€13.8 billion) from 2025 to 2030.
The first nuclear power plant is anticipated to begin commercial operation in 2036, three years later than planned. Construction is expected to commence after the European Union's approval of Warsaw's request for 60 billion zloty (€14.2 billion) in state aid for the project. Plans are also underway for a second nuclear power plant, with construction to start in 2032 and the first unit expected to come online around 2040, one year later than initially projected.
Potential locations for this plant include Bełchatów and Konin in central Poland, which offer existing energy infrastructure and extensive experience in electricity generation. Competing bidders from the United States, France, and Canada are vying to supply the technology and build the plant, with a final decision to be made by Poland in the following year.
Written by urgent.news from Notes from Poland's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
