Poland signs agreement for second nuclear plant, first unit targeted for 2040

Poland's Ministry of Energy, Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) and Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) signed an agreement on October 13 defining the division of tasks and principles of cooperation in preparing construction of the country's second nuclear power plant. Bełchatów and Konin are the preferred locations. The document introduces the assumptions of the updated Polish nuclear power programme, adopted by the Council of Ministers on September 29.

PEJ, a special-purpose vehicle 100% owned by Poland's State Treasury, is to be the investor and coordinator of the second plant project. PGE will prepare site analyses and preliminary feasibility studies in collaboration with potential technology suppliers.

Competitive dialogue draws three countries

A competitive dialogue is under way to select a technology supplier and project contractor for the second plant. The USA, France and Canada have joined the process. Suppliers will prepare preliminary feasibility studies for plants using the technologies they offer, the ministry said. The ministry said the procedure aims to select an offer covering technology, investment financing and elements of broader strategic cooperation, and that proven Generation III+ large-scale light-water reactors are being considered for the second plant, as for the first.

Under the updated programme, a strategic partner and technology are to be selected in 2027, construction is to start around 2032, and the first unit is to start up around 2040, one year behind the previous schedule. The ministry said the final decision on the second plant will be made after research and analyses confirm the feasibility of the investment.

Wojciech Wrochna, Deputy Minister of Energy and Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure, said: "We now have site analyses, feasibility studies, and technology selection ahead of us. We intend to conduct this process competitively to develop favourable investment implementation conditions, taking into account not only technology but also financing and long-term strategic cooperation."

First plant targets 2036 operation

In September 2021, Poland announced that six large pressurised water reactors with a combined installed capacity of 6-9 GWe could be built by 2040. The Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania was selected as the preferred location for the first plant, which will have a capacity of 3,750 MWe using Westinghouse's AP1000 technology. Westinghouse, Bechtel and PEJ signed an agreement setting the delivery plan in May 2023, and construction is scheduled to begin in 2028. Under the updated programme, the first unit is now scheduled to start commercial operation in 2036, with the plant expected to reach full capacity by 2038, three years later than previously planned.