EC's consent to Polish nuclear power possible by the end of the year

According to the Act on the preparation and implementation of investments in nuclear power facilities , the Polish Nuclear Power Plants (PEJ) company will receive public support for the preparation and implementation of the investment - the construction of the first nuclear power plant - with a budget expenditure limit of up to PLN 60.2 billion. The money is to be paid out in the years 2025-2030.

The condition for recapitalizing the company is the consent of the European Commission to state aid.

- We talked about this application with the European Commission this week. Minister Wojciech Wrochna is convinced that the talks will last until the end of 2025 , but this deadline may be extended because it is related to EU procedures - and August is the holiday period in EU institutions. These are dates that are difficult to specify in detail - said Marzena Czarnecka, Minister of Industry, in response to a question about the date of the EC's consent to public aid for the Polish nuclear power plant.

A contract for difference (CfD) for a period of 60 years is assumed for the operation phase of the nuclear power plant. The European Commission must agree to its use, and there is no lack of opinion that the EC may not agree to such a long contract period.

According to the latest declarations of the Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure, the so-called first concrete for the first reactor is to be poured in 2028. The first nuclear unit is to be ready for commercial operation in 2036, and the subsequent units in the following years.

The financing model for the project to build the first nuclear power plant assumes that the State Treasury will be the sole investor . The model assumes a share of equity capital at 30 percent and debt capital at 70 percent.

The first Polish nuclear project is to cost around 45 billion euros , or around 192 billion PLN. It is to consist of three units with AP 1000 reactors manufactured by Westinghouse. The power plant is to be built in the Choczewo commune in the Pomeranian province.

The Ministry of Industry announced the launch of public consultations on the Polish Nuclear Power Program (PPEJ), which are to last until July 25.