Poland Updates Nuclear Power Plan: First Nuclear Power Plant to Be Commissioned in 2036

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 30, the Polish Council of Ministers approved the new version of the "Polish Nuclear Power Programme," continuing to advance the construction of two large nuclear power plants with a total installed capacity of up to 9 GW. The new plan redefines the implementation timetable for the first and second nuclear power plants. The first unit of the first nuclear power plant is scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2036, and once all three units are completed, it will reach full-load operation of approximately 3.75 GW in 2038.

The first nuclear power plant is being implemented by the Polish state-owned company Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, located in the Choczewo area of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, and will use three Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors with a total installed capacity of approximately 3.75 GW. The project has moved from the preliminary preparation stage to the implementation stage, and is currently carrying out site preparation, supporting infrastructure construction, and procurement of subsequent engineering contracts.

The project completed several key milestones consecutively from the end of 2025 to 2026. In December 2025, the European Commission approved the state support scheme for the project; in March 2026, the owner submitted an application for a nuclear facility construction permit to the National Atomic Energy Agency of Poland. According to the current plan, from 2025 to 2030, the Polish government will inject 60.2 billion zlotys into the first nuclear power plant project, and the project financing will adopt a model combining equity capital and debt financing from domestic and international institutions.

The new plan also defines the construction route for the second large nuclear power plant. Bełchatów and Konin remain the priority candidate sites, and the final location will be determined after completing detailed analysis and on-site investigations. The project will continue to adopt mature Generation III+ large water-cooled reactor technology. Currently, the United States, France, and Canada have participated in competitive dialogues as technology suppliers and project contractors.

The second nuclear power plant is planned to determine its strategic partner and reactor technology in 2027, start construction around 2032, and put its first unit into operation around 2040. The new nuclear power plan treats the technical solution and project financing of the second plant as unified procurement conditions, requiring candidate proposals to simultaneously cover reactor technology, engineering implementation, and financing arrangements.

Poland also raised the local supply chain participation target in the new plan. The government estimates that during the construction of the first reactor, Polish companies can undertake approximately 40% of the project value; as subsequent unit construction and local enterprise certification capabilities increase, this proportion can rise to as high as approximately 70%. Key participation areas include civil engineering, steel structures, electrical machinery, transportation and logistics, industrial automation, and engineering services.