Nuclear power plant complaint expected, still complicates permitting - Pomeranian governor
Poland's region of Pomerania is at the stage of issuing a permit for the first stage of preparatory work on the construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant, Pomeranian governor Beata Rutkiewicz told journalists. She added that a complaint to the regional administrative court against the environmental decision for the power plant complicates the process, but the regional authorities have been expecting it and are prepared.
"At the moment, we are at the stage of issuing planning permission for the first phase of preparatory works. There is an environmental procedure going on at the moment, which is also very important for local residents," Pomeranian governor Beata Rutkiewicz told reporters at the Prime Minister's Chancellery after signing a bridge agreement with the Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium for the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Choczewo municipality.
100-percent state-owned nuclear power SPV Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (PEJ) applied for a permit for preparatory work to the Pomeranian governor in August 2024.
Governor Rutkiewicz stressed that Pomerania wants to be sure of the safety of this investment.
"We have all heard about some voices related to the use of the Baltic Sea, so here all these environmental procedures are extremely important for us, and we are working on them today," she emphasised.
Asked whether the complaint to the regional administrative court (WSA) against the environmental decision issued by the General Directorate for Environmental Protection (GDOS) complicates the process, she admitted that it does, but, at the same time, indicated that it was expected.
"On the one hand, it can be said that it complicates, but on the other, it is a natural process in the implementation of such large investments," Beata Rutkiewicz pointed out.
"The whole construction and preparation process has to be prepared based on the opinion of other communities as well. Not only we are not surprised that this is how this procedure is going, but we have been also prepared for it," she added.
Governor Rutkiewicz stressed that the region and regional entrepreneurs have very high hopes for this project.
"It's going to be a long construction project, up to ten thousand workers will come to us in a peak moment (...), and for the hotel industry this means a much greater use of their potential than just the tourist one," Rutkiewicz assessed.
She added that the education market will also change, both vocational, secondary and higher education, and that the regional government is also working on it.
On April 11, the General Director of Environmental Protection forwarded complaint against the GDOS decision of January 16, 2025, in which the inspector upheld part of the environmental decision from 2023 for the construction of Poland's first nuclear power plant, while overturning a part of this decision.
At the time, the Ministry of Climate and Environment (MKiS) informed PAP Biznes that the complaint does not suspend the execution of the contested environmental decision for the nuclear power plant, nor does it stop the possibility for the investor to continue the investment process.
The complaint against the GDOS decision was filed by the Baltyckie-SOS association, fighting for the safety of natural coastal areas.
The project for the first nuclear power plant in Poland is being carried out by the 100 percent state-owned company Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe (PEJ). The previous government had named the US contractor, Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium as the contractor and partner for the first power plant.
Earlier on Monday, Poland has signed final a bridge agreement (EDA) with the Westinghouse-Bechtel for the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Pomerania.
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