Construction of first Westinghouse reactor could begin in 2028
The site chosen for Poland’s first commercial nuclear power station is suitable for construction to go ahead, specialists from Poland’s National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) have said.
The PAA said in a statement that specialists had assessed the 700-page preliminary siting report to ensure nuclear safety and radiological protection at the site, near the coastal towns of Lubiatowo and Kopalino in the northern province of Pomerania.
The assessment included the site’s geological, hydrological and meteorological conditions. Specialists also assessed potential events resulting from natural forces and human activity, and the feasibility of emergency procedures in the event of a radiation emergency.
“The Lubiatowo-Kopalino location allows for the maintenance of nuclear safety and radiological protection, and therefore there are no circumstances that would preclude the construction of a nuclear power plant there,” the PAA said.
Obtaining an opinion from the PAA on the preliminary siting report is not mandatory, but Poland’s state nuclear project company Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) said it is “crucial” because the report will be one of the documents attached to the application to the PAA for a licence to carry out early works at the nuclear power facility.
“This will have a positive impact on the project schedule and will allow some of the construction work to be completed earlier,” PEJ said.
“The opinion on the site selection issued by the president of the National Atomic Energy Agency marks another very important step in the process of building Poland’s first nuclear power plant,” said energy minister Miłosz Motyka.
“The opinion confirms that the site of the future power plant allows for the assurance of nuclear safety and radiation protection, and that there are no factors on the site that would prevent construction and operation of the NPP.
“The largest project in the history of the Polish energy sector will materialise soon. Nuclear will be one of the cornerstones of energy transition and the strength of our economy.”
In March PEJ submitted an application for a construction licence for the country’s first nuclear power station, marking what the company described as one of the most important milestones for the project.
Construction of the first of three Westinghouse AP1000 units is expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2028, starting with the pouring of first nuclear concrete. Operation of the first unit is scheduled for 2036, followed by the second in 2037 and the third in 2038.
PEJ has secured PLN 60bn (€14.1bn, $16.1bn) in state financing and has received approval of its financing model from the European Commission. Earlier reports put the total cost of the project around €45bn-€47bn, with PEJ seeking 30% state equity and 70% debt financing. A contract for difference scheme has been approved for the operational phase of the project.
An engineering, procurement and construction contract between PEJ and the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium is expected to be signed around mid-2026, local reports have said.
Poland wants to deploy nuclear power to cut dependence on coal and other fossil fuels and strengthen energy security amid growing geopolitical pressures. The project will involve local industrial participation and support the country’s construction and heavy industry sectors.
A computer-generated image of the planned nuclear power station. Courtesy PEJ.
