Poland is looking towards the launching of its inaugural large-scale nuclear power plant in 2040, adjusting expectations after the prior government’s forecast for a launch in 2032 was deemed overly ambitious. 

The decision to construct at least one, potentially two, nuclear power plants (NPPs) was made by the Law and Justice government, which lost power last year. Talks were initiated with various potential partners, including those from the United States and South Korea.

During the European Economic Congress in Katowice, southern Poland, on Tuesday, Industry Minister Marzena Czarnecka stated that the country was „cautiously assuming the prospect of launching the first large-scale nuclear power plant in 2040.”

https://twitter.com/theworldenergy/status/1788035509303890383

The current iteration of the Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PPEJ) from 2020 outlines the construction of two nuclear power plants with a collective capacity of 6-9 GW. 

The State Treasury and the Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) company are slated for 100% ownership, acting as investors and operators. The previous government had chosen the American Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium as a partner for Poland’s first major nuclear power plant.

According to earlier projections, construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site was expected to commence in 2026, with the first AP1000 reactor utilising Westinghouse technology operational by 2033, followed by two more within the subsequent three years. The Ministry of Climate and Environment has announced plans to update the PPEJ later this year.

Image: X (@WECNuclear)

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen