Poland approves construction of 24 small modular reactors at six sites

Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment has approved the construction of 24 small modular reactors at six sites in Poland. Reuters reported this today, citing an Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) representative. OSGE is a joint venture between petrochemical company Orlen and chemicals company Synthos, which is owned by one of Poland’s richest men, Michal Solowow.

„It is symbolic that we received the preliminary decisions today, when Poland’s carbon dioxide emissions per kilowatt-hour are the highest in Europe and among the highest in the world. These decisions will allow us to build GE Hitachi BWRX-300 reactors in Poland and provide zero-emission, stable energy sources,“ said OSGE CEO Rafal Kasprów.

Poland is the EU country most dependent on coal, currently generating around 70 percent of its electricity from fossil fuels. With carbon dioxide emissions increasingly weighing on energy prices, the country is investing in offshore wind farms and nuclear power to replace its ageing coal-fired power plants.

Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment said the small modular reactors could be built in Wloclawek, the village of Stawy Monowskie near Auschwitz, Stalowa Wola in the southeast of the country, Ostroleka, Nowa Huta and the city of Dabrowa Gornicza in Silesia.

TVN24 reported on its website that OSGE plans to bring at least one reactor online by 2030. No BWRX-300 reactor has yet entered service; the first is due to begin operating in Canada in 2028, followed by the second in Poland.

Polish media note that in July this year the Ministry of Climate and Environment granted a permit to Polish metals producer KGHM to build small modular reactors. OSGE applied for a permit at the same time as KGHM, but had to wait considerably longer. The weekly Polityka wrote that this was due to objections from the ABW intelligence service. It is not clear what they concerned, however, as the relevant documents are classified.