Gov't approves plan to build Poland's first nuclear power plant

The Polish government has approved a plan to build the country’s first nuclear power plant using US technology, with the first reactor due for launch in 2033, the climate and environment minister has said.

Poland's Climate and Environment Minister Anna Moskwa.

PAP/Radek Pietruszka

Anna Moskwa announced the move via Twitter on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.

- W środę wydano decyzję zasadniczą dla Polskich Elektrowni Jądrowych – poinformowała szefowa resortu klimatu Anna Moskwa. https://t.co/xKiJ8nhvlK

— Wprost Biznes (@Wprostbiznes) July 12, 2023

The Polish climate and environment minister wrote: “Today we issued a decision-in-principle for the Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe company, which brings us closer to the construction of the first nuclear power plant in our country.”

She added that “nuclear energy will ensure stability of supply and diversification of the sources of energy, and therefore the energy sovereignty of our country.”

Dziś wydaliśmy decyzję zasadniczą dla @PEJ_PL, która przybliża 🇵🇱 do budowy pierwszej w naszym kraju elektrowni jądrowej. Dokument to formalne potwierdzenie, że planowana inwestycja jest zgodna z interesem publicznym i konsekwentnie prowadzoną przez rząd polityką energetyczną.… pic.twitter.com/V9ZZC9nVot

— Anna Moskwa (@moskwa_anna) July 12, 2023

The governmental decision-in-principle confirms that the project aligns with state policy, including energy policy, the PAP news agency reported.

The document is a basic requirement for projects to build nuclear power plants, according to officials.

The state utility PEJ applied for a decision-in-principle for Poland’s first nuclear station in April, the PAP news agency reported.

On Wednesday, PEJ said in a statement that “securing the decision-in-principle represents another milestone towards the construction of a nuclear power plant in Pomorskie province” in northern Poland.

Ministerstwo Kultury i Środowiska wydało decyzję zasadniczą dla Polskich Elektrowni Jądrowych, która przybliża nasz kraj do budowy pierwszej w naszym kraju elektrowni jądrowej https://t.co/pRFqP6s9y9

— PolskieRadio24.pl (@PR24_pl) July 12, 2023

.@MKiS_GOV_PL gave the green light for the #NuclearPowerPlant in Pomerania. Thus, our power plant is the first nuclear project in 🇵🇱 Poland that obtained a decision-in-principle, confirming that the project is in line with the public interest.
➡ https://t.co/UeXL6kCGyl pic.twitter.com/Ulv72sBMjv

— Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe sp. z o.o. (@PEJ_PL) July 12, 2023

Poland’s first nuclear power plant to be ready by 2033

In May, the Polish government and PEJ signed a “milestone” agreement with US nuclear companies Westinghouse and Bechtel on the design and construction of Poland’s first planned nuclear power plant.

Poland’s first nuclear station is set to be built in the northern villages of Lubiatowo and Kopalino using Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor technology, officials said.

Construction is set to start in 2026, with the first of three reactors slated to be ready in 2033, according to the Polish government. 

In April, Poland’s state-run energy giant PGE and the biggest private energy firm ZE PAK created a joint-venture company that will team up with South Korea’s KHNP to build a nuclear plant in western Poland, news outlets reported at the time.  

In all, Poland’s nuclear energy policy foresees the creation of six nuclear reactors with a combined installed capacity of 6-9 GW, the PAP news agency reported.

(pm/gs)  

Source: IAR, PAP, portalkomunalny.pl