Poland’s Ministry of Energy has finally completed the long-awaited update of the Polish Nuclear Power Program (PPEJ), a key strategic document outlining the country’s roadmap for nuclear energy. The new version, published on June 12, 2026, confirms plans for up to 9 GWe of nuclear capacity, with the first plant in Lubiatowo-Kopalino and a second large-scale facility in central Poland.
The document was prepared over several years, first by the Ministry of Industry and later by the Ministry of Energy. Delays were caused by additional analyses and more than 1,000 comments from nearly 70 stakeholders during public consultations. The final version incorporates progress made in the last year, including approval of state aid by the European Commission in December 2025 and the investor’s application for a construction permit in March 2026.
The program’s main goal remains unchanged: build and operate nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 6 to 9 GWe using proven generation III+ large-scale water reactors. The move is driven by the need to strengthen energy security after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the recent Iran-related crisis on oil and gas markets.
First reactor on track, second in competition
The first nuclear power plant in Lubiatowo-Kopalino (Choczewo municipality) will use three AP1000 reactors supplied by Westinghouse from the United States. Commercial operation of the first unit is scheduled for 2036. The project is carried out by Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, a special-purpose company fully owned by the state.
For the second plant, the government has chosen coal-fired power plant sites in central Poland as preferred locations, specifically Bełchatów and Konin. A competitive dialogue with potential technology partners from the United States, France, and Canada is ongoing, and the selection of a strategic partner is expected in 2027. The combined capacity of both plants will reach about 7.5 GWe, leaving some room to the 9 GWe upper limit.
Six pillars of the government’s nuclear push
The Ministry of Energy has defined six key tasks to achieve the program’s objectives: building and operating nuclear units, developing industrial and research back-up, preparing qualified personnel, conducting social communication, securing financing, and ensuring international cooperation. The document also stresses that nuclear energy is the only dispatchable zero-emission source that can be deployed on a large scale in Poland.
– The significance of energy security has grown substantially due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the subsequent energy crisis – stated the Ministry of Energy. The ministry also highlighted that nuclear power can stabilize electricity prices and reduce dependence on fossil fuel price volatility, which is crucial for energy-intensive industries facing deindustrialization risks.
Separate strategic documents cover nuclear safety and radioactive waste management, so the PPEJ does not include those aspects in detail. The updated program will be followed by a roadmap for small modular reactors (SMRs) later this month and the long-awaited Polish Energy Policy until 2040 (PEP2040).
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. josefkubes / Shutterstock
