Poland delays first nuclear plant start to 2036, updates energy programme

October 3, 2026 at 08:04 PM2 min

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Poland's government updated its nuclear energy programme, delaying the first nuclear power plant's commercial start to 2036, three years later than planned. The second plant's first unit is now scheduled for around 2040. The programme targets 6–9 GW from two plants with large Generation III+ reactors.

Key Facts

Poland's first nuclear power plant is now scheduled to begin commercial operation in 2036, three years later than the previous plan.
The first unit of the second nuclear power plant is planned for around 2040, one year later than previously scheduled.
The updated programme provides for two nuclear power plants with a combined capacity of 6 to 9 GW using large Generation III+ reactors.
The first plant, with a capacity of about 3.75 GW, is being built in Choczewo municipality on the Baltic coast by Westinghouse and Bechtel.
The European Commission approved €13.8 billion (60.2 billion zlotys) in state aid for the first plant over 2025–2030.

First Plant on Baltic Coast

The first nuclear power plant, with a total capacity of around 3.75 GW, is being built in partnership with the US consortium Westinghouse and Bechtel in the Choczewo municipality on the Baltic Sea coast. Preparatory work is already underway at the site, and in March 2026 the investor submitted an application for a construction permit to the head of the National Atomic Energy Agency. The first nuclear concrete is scheduled to be poured in 2028. The European Commission approved state aid for this project: in 2025–2030, it is to receive 60.2 billion zlotys, or €13.8 billion, in state support.

Second Plant and Polish Participation

Construction of Poland's second nuclear power plant is planned to begin in 2032, with Bełchatów and Konin in the central part of the country remaining priority sites. Companies from the United States, France and Canada are offering technologies and construction services, and Poland is to select a partner next year. The programme also provides for expanding the participation of Polish companies in nuclear projects. According to the government's estimate, domestic enterprises could account for around 40% of the project value of the first reactor, and for subsequent units this figure could rise to 70% after companies gain experience and the necessary certification. By 2040, Poland expects to obtain approximately 15–16% of its electricity from nuclear energy, as part of a plan to reduce dependence on coal, which currently provides around half of the country's electricity production.