Poland to earmark PLN 1 bln for infrastructure support to first nuclear power plant construction
According to the explanatory memorandum to next year's draft budget, Poland will earmark approximately PLN 1 billion (EUR 234.3 mln) for infrastructure support in 2026, including the construction of a first nuclear power plant in Pomerania. Approximately PLN 54 million (EUR 12.65 mln) is also planned to be spent on the Polish Nuclear Energy Programme (PPEJ), including an information and education campaign on nuclear energy.
The draft budget for 2026 allocates approximately PLN 1 billion (EUR 234.3 mln) to a multi-year programme supporting infrastructure investments related to the implementation of key investments in strategic energy infrastructure, including a nuclear power plant, in the Pomeranian Province.
In addition, PLN 54.4 million (EUR 12.65 mln) in expenditure has been planned for the Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PPEJ), implemented by the Ministry of Energy and the National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA), which represents 0.3 percent of the total state budget expenditure allocated to the implementation of multi-year programmes.
The intention to conduct a nationwide information campaign as part of the Polish Nuclear Energy Programme (PPEJ) was announced.
"In 2026, as part of the programme's implementation, it is planned to conduct an information and education campaign promoting the development of nuclear energy in Poland (TV, radio, Internet)," the government said in the explanatory memorandum on next year's budget.
Furthermore, approximately PLN 26.2 million (EUR 6.14 mln) has been earmarked for the modernisation programme of the Maria research nuclear reactor, enabling its operation after 2027.
"The aim of the programme is to modernise the MARIA research nuclear reactor in order to
ensure its safe operation after 2027, at least until 2050," it was indicated.
It was added that the total cost of the programme for 2023-2027 amounts to PLN 91.7 million (EUR 21.5 mln).
Poland's first nuclear power plant, ‘Lubiatowo-Kopalino’, with a capacity of 3,750 MWe, is being built in the municipality of Choczewo, in the Pomeranian region (northern Poland). The project already has obtained, among other things, an environmental and location decision and a permit for preparatory work. The contractor for the power plant is the American Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium, and the investor is the 100-percent state-owned SPV PEJ.
Since 2023, field work related to geological surveys has been underway at the site. At the same time, the investor is continuing its efforts to obtain further administrative permits, including a permit from the National Atomic Energy Agency and a building permit.
At the end of 2024, the European Commission launched proceedings concerning Poland's application for state aid for the construction of the first nuclear power plant through a capital injection of PLN 60 billion (EUR 14.1 bln) by the State Treasury into the investor, PEJ, as well as the use of a contract for difference.
The so-called nuclear special act specifies the maximum limits of state budget expenditure for cash contributions. Thus, in 2025, it is to be PLN 4.6 billion (EUR 1.1 bln), in 2026 - PLN 11 billion (EUR 2.6 bln), in 2027 - PLN 14 billion (EUR 3.3 bln), in 2028 - PLN 13 billion (EUR 3.1 bln), in 2029 - PLN 11 billion (EUR 2.6 bln), and in 2030 - PLN 6.6 billion (EUR 1.55 bln).
The adopted financing structure for the nuclear power plant assumes a 70 percent share of debt financing and a 30 percent share of equity financing, up to the amount of approximately PLN 60 billion (EUR 14.1 bln) .
According to the schedule, the first electricity from the Polish first nuclear power plant is to be generated in the second half of the 2030s.
jz/ ao/