The Ministry of Climate and Environment has confirmed it will not change the course of the Polish Nuclear Power Programme, but it will offer details after an audit.
„Energy security is extremely important for the government, and therefore the government will continue programs related to the development of nuclear energy with resolve,” assured the Minister of Climate and Environment Paulina Hennig-Kloska in a written answer on behalf of Prime Minister Donald Tusk to the questions submitted by MPs after the PM’s expose.
„Poland will continue its nuclear energy development programme. Detailed plans will be presented after the review of all agreements and analysis of their effectiveness in the context of ensuring Poland’s comprehensive energy security,” the Minister assured. „Energy security is an important issue for the government. The schedule includes the construction and commissioning of two nuclear power plants with three reactors each,” she confirmed.
„The location has already been selected – Lubiatowo-Kopalino in the municipality of Choczewo in the Pomeranian Voivodeship and the technology will be AP1000 provided by the American company Westinghouse. The investor is the State Treasury, and the launch of the first reactor is scheduled for 2033,” the answer continued. „On July 11, 2023, the Minister of Climate and Environment, at the request of Polish Nuclear Power Plants (PEJ), issued a decision-in-principle, which formally confirmed that the investment in the first nuclear power plant in Poland is in accordance with the public interest and the policy pursued by the state, including energy policy. This document entitles Polish Nuclear Power Plants to apply for administrative decisions and a subsequent construction permit.
It should be emphasized that PEJ subsequently obtained other key administrative decisions, in particular, on September 19, 2023, the Director General of Environmental Protection issued a decision on the environmental conditions for the first nuclear power plant, and on October 26, 2023, the governor of Pomerania issued a decision on determining the location of investments related to the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Poland. Further steps will be taken in consultation with investors,” the Climate Minister explained.
According to the Polish Nuclear Power Programme, Poland’s first reactor will be ready in 2033, and by 2043 the country will have 6-9 GW in nuclear capacity. Preparations are underway to choose the second location. After taking over the reins in Poland, the new Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced a „quick audit” and the acceleration of the nuclear program.
Wojciech Jakóbik