Polish utility Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ), which is responsible for the construction of Poland’s first NPP, has submitted to the Pomeranian Voivode (local governor) an application for permission to start preparatory work for construction to begin. The application relates to geodetic works and fencing of the preparatory work area.
“We have divided the preparatory work into several stages, in this way we will minimise the potential nuisance associated with such activities,” said PEJ President Leszek Juchniewicz. “We are particularly concerned about the local communities of the Choczewo commune and neighbouring municipalities.”
Preparatory works will be carried out on an area of about 300 hectares in two phases, first on about 45% of the site. One of the necessary actions will be the removal of vegetation preceded by mitigation measures – including meta-plantation and the installation of bird and bat boxes. These activities have been planned in accordance with the conditions set out in the environmental impact assessment (EIA) decision for the NPP.
In addition to its application to start work, PEJ also submitted an environmental report on the re-evaluation of the project’s environmental impact regarding the first stage of planned preparatory work. The report was undertaken in cooperation with Energopomiar Gliwice, which specialises in comprehensive studies for energy projects. It analysed the impact of preparatory work on the environment. Separate reports from the re-assessment of the project’s environmental impact will be drawn up for the next stages of work related to NPP construction.
Meanwhile, PEJ plans to obtain, among other approvals, building permits (issued by the State Agency for Atomic Energy) and building permits (issued by the Pomeranian Voivode).
In November 2022, the Polish government selected Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology for construction at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo municipality in Pomerania. An agreement setting a plan for the delivery of the plant was signed in May 2023 by Westinghouse, Bechtel and PEJ. The Ministry of Climate and Environment in July issued a decision-in-principle for PEJ to construct the plant. The aim is for Poland’s first AP1000 reactor to enter commercial operation in 2033. In September 2023, an engineering services agreement was signed with Westinghouse and Bechtel to finalise a site-specific design for a three-unit NPP. The contract also involves supporting the investment process and bringing it in line with current legal regulations in cooperation with the PAA and the Office of Technical Inspection.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, announcing the start of preparatory work, said the project will involve significant investments in road construction and railway modernisation. At the same press conference, Finance Minister Andrzej Domański announced that the government has secured €1.07bn ($1.18bn) for the next year to support the NPP project.
In August, the government’s plenipotentiary for strategic energy infrastructure outlined a bill proposing approximately €14bn in public support for PEJ. The support would be provided through an increase in the company’s share capital, either by cash contributions or non-cash assets such as Treasury securities. However, this will require approval from the European Commission for state aid.
