The Ministry of Energy has released an update to the Polish Nuclear Energy Program. The document outlines the next phase of one of the largest infrastructure investments in the country’s history: the construction of two nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of up to 9 GWe.
The government argues that the project is significant not only for energy security but also for industrial development, the labor market, and national technological capabilities. The updated PPEJ describes the nuclear program for the first time in the context of ongoing investments. The first power plant, being built by Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, comprises three AP1000 reactors with a total capacity of approximately 3.75 GWe. Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka assures that the financing model for this investment is already secured.
The document addresses, among other things, the development of human resources, the domestic supply chain, transmission infrastructure, and the nuclear regulatory system. As Deputy Energy Minister Wojciech Wrochna notes, the goal is to create a sustainable nuclear energy sector that will support the economy for decades to come.
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Over 14 billion euros and a timeline through 2038
Over 14 billion EUR has been allocated for the recapitalization of the first power plant between 2025 and 2030. The financing model is to be based on equity and debt financing supported by domestic and international institutions. What is the current status of construction preparations? In March of this year, the investor submitted an application for a construction permit to the National Atomic Energy Agency. The planned start of commercial operation of the first unit is currently scheduled for 2036. The facility will reach full capacity in 2038.
At the same time, preparations for the construction of the second power plant are underway. The preferred locations are Bełchatów and Konin, regions with well-developed energy infrastructure. The final decision is to be made following detailed site analyses.
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The U.S., France, and Canada in the running for the second power plant
The Ministry of Energy is conducting a competitive dialogue regarding the selection of technology and a contractor for the second power plant. The United States, France, and Canada have joined the talks. The selection of a strategic partner and technology for the second power plant is planned for 2027. Construction could begin around 2032, and the first unit is scheduled to be commissioned around 2040.
Deputy Minister Wrochna also noted that work on the second power plant will be coordinated by PEJ, with significant involvement from Polska Grupa Energetyczna in technical and site selection analyses. This confirms media reports from early June, which indicated the possibility of PGE’s participation in the construction of the second facility of this type in the country.
Industry and workforce: domestic participation is set to grow
The construction of two power plants means thousands of contracts for companies in the construction, steel, electrical machinery, logistics, and industrial automation sectors. The government anticipates a systematic increase in the participation of Polish companies in nuclear projects. For the first reactor, the share of domestic companies is expected to be 40 percent, but for subsequent units, it will rise to as much as 70 percent.
The updated program also provides for support for company certification and skills development. At the peak of construction, up to several thousand people are expected to be involved on the construction site.
The government is also working on a roadmap for the development of small modular reactors (SMRs). The document is intended to identify possible state support instruments, including a contract for difference (CfD) and guarantees. As Wrochna noted, these will not be automatic state commitments, but tools that can be applied to projects deemed economically viable.
The update to the PPEJ is set to be discussed by the government in the coming weeks. If the schedule is maintained, Poland will enter the next phase of its nuclear program, which is expected to transform both the structure of the country’s energy sector and the position of Polish industry within the European supply chain for the nuclear sector.
