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Vast majority of Poles support nuclear power plant construction: survey

15.12.2024 13:17
A record 92.5 percent of Poles support the construction of a nuclear power plant in the country, according to a new survey by the Ministry of Industry.
Photo:
Photo:Stefan Kühn, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The poll, reporting the highest support for the project on record since 2012, also found that 80% of respondents would approve of such a facility being built near their homes.

Support for nuclear energy has steadily grown since 2019, driven by rising concerns over energy security and climate change, said Paweł Gajda, head of the Ministry's nuclear energy department.

“We’ve seen a clear shift in attitudes as people recognize the need for clean and reliable energy sources,” Gajda said.

Poland’s first nuclear power plant is planned for the coastal municipality of Choczewo in the Pomeranian region.

However, the project has faced opposition from environmental groups such as the Baltic S.O.S. Association. Its board member Hanna Trybusiewicz warned that the construction would devastate additional sections of the already pressured coastal ecosystem.

The nationwide survey, conducted by research firm DANAE between November 12 and 28, 2024, used CATI (Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing) and sampled 2,060 Poles aged 15 to 75. The findings suggest broad public backing for nuclear power, despite localized concerns about environmental impacts.

The plant in Choczewo is part of Poland’s broader strategy to reduce its dependence on coal and imported energy while meeting European Union climate goals.

Nuclear power is expected to play a central role in the country's energy transition, with the government highlighting its potential to cut emissions and stabilize energy costs.

source: PAP

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