Polish state-owned company Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (PEJ) has been issued a permit by the Pomeranian Voivode (local governor) for preparatory work related to the construction of Poland’s first NPP. Work is scheduled to start this autumn. PEJ explained that the activities would be implemented in an area of approximately 330 hectares in two stages. The permit applies to the first stage of activities and covers the demarcation of the area, fencing of the area, removal of vegetation, as well as development and levelling of the area, PEJ said in a statement.
According to PEJ President Marek Woszczyk, starting preparatory work is an important part of the project for the investment. “In accordance with the schedule, we are heading towards starting the key stage of the investment, which is the construction of the plant. Timely implementation of such a complex project would not be possible without efficient and professional cooperation with the government administration, in this case with the Pomeranian Voivode and representatives of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Office,” he said,
PEJ, over the last year and a half, has been conducting a broad environmental and research campaign, which preceded the start of preparatory work. The project already has environmental and siting decisions, and field work related to geological research has been ongoing at the location since 2023.
The site has been re-examined to determine its condition before the start of operations and to effectively transfer protected plant and animal species. These activities fulfilled obligations arising from the environmental decision issued by the General Director of Environmental Protection.
PEJ said the preparatory work would begin with a geodetic delineation of the area where the facilities would then be prepared. At the same time, the area will continue to be checked for possible archaeological sites, unexploded ordnance so that the work is carried out in a safe manner for staff and bystanders. Then, in October and November, the removal of trees and shrubs will begin. Felling will be completed by spring 2026.
In parallel, PEJ is working to obtain further administrative permits, including permits from the National Atomic Energy Agency and building permits. PEJ said the Pomeranian Voivode has also issued a decision “to determine the location for the second stage of activities related to connecting the construction site to the electricity distribution network”.
PEJ explained that by connecting the construction site to the Energa Operator distribution network will provide constant access to electricity which will be very important for carrying out preparatory construction work. As part of the first stage, in March 2025, a transformer station was put into operation near ul Morska and the Biebrowski Canal along with a 15kV cable line.
In the second stage, two transformer stations and a 15kV 9km cable network and connector will be built. PEJ plans to obtain a building permit for this investment later this year. Construction work will start at the beginning of next year and will be completed by the second quarter of 2026. Woszczyk, said that the company would like to submit an application for a plant construction permit in 2027.
The NPP is to be built in Lubiatowo-Kopalino in Pomerania comprising three units using AP1000 Westinghouse technology. The contractor will be the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium. According to the draft update of the Polish Nuclear Energy Program (PPEJ – Program Polskiej Energetyki Jądrowej) commercial operation of the first unit is to begin in 2036.
In November 2022, the then Polish government selected Westinghouse AP1000 reactor technology. An agreement setting a plan for the delivery of the plant was signed in May 2023 by Westinghouse, Bechtel and PEJ. In September 2023, an engineering services agreement was signed with Westinghouse and Bechtel to finalise a site-specific design for the three-unit NPP. The total investment costs of the project are estimated to be about PLN192bn ($49bn).
