Mr Naimski did not specify what the funds would be spent on, but said the country’s plans include building six nuclear reactor units over 20 years with a combined output of between 6 and 9 GW.
Poland generates most of its electricity from carbon-intensive coal and is the only EU state that has not pledged to achieve climate neutrality in 2050. Facing pressure from the European Union to reduce emissions, it has planned to build significant nuclear capacity by 2040.
Mr Naimski said in an interview with WNP that the most difficult task will be to build a nuclear power station on schedule because it is a long-term undertaking which needs 10 to 12 years.
“The point is to stick to a perfect schedule all the time, without any delays, because delays are most expensive,” he said.
Mr Naimski said the money to be spent on new nuclear is “a lot”, but “economically developing” Poland could afford it.
On the current status of Poland’s nuclear programme, Mr Naimski said decisions to be taken over the course of 2020 will relate to the choice of technology vendor and financing.
He said the government has been discussing its nuclear plans with the US Department of Energy and is expecting an offer from the US side which will be reviewed.
Asked about potential partners from France or South Korea, Mr Naimski said: “The suppliers who have proven technology and are able to build on budget and schedule, and with whom we also want to have a strategic partnership for decades, are not many.”
Poland launched a national nuclear power programme in 2014 which included the construction of up to 6 GW of capacity by 2035, but the government has been delaying a final decision on the programme since taking over in 2015 because of financing uncertainties.
In November 2019, Piotr Naimski told reporters that officials are in the process of conducting a “very detailed review” of all available reactor technology options.
Government sources have said Poland will be aiming at a possible 6% nuclear share in the early to mid-2030s and a 15-20% nuclear share by 2050, although this would depend on a final decision about the nuclear programme and its financing.
Poland wants to invest in a new low-carbon energy source like nuclear to help it reduce its CO2 emissions in line with EU targets. About 80% of Poland’s electricity comes from ageing coal plants, many of which will have to close in the coming decade. Poland wants to reduce that to 60% in the 2030s.
