Poland signs agreement to prepare second nuclear power plant. First unit planned around 2040

Poland is continuing preparations for its second large nuclear power plant, for which it plans to select a technology and strategic partner in 2027. Two sites remain under consideration, and the project is expected to draw on experience gained from building Poland’s first nuclear power plant.

Poland’s Ministry of Energy, Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) and energy group Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) signed an agreement on 13 October setting out the division of responsibilities in preparing Poland’s second nuclear power plant. The document follows the updated Polish nuclear program, approved by the government on 29 September 2026.

The state-owned PEJ, which is already overseeing preparations for Poland’s first nuclear power plant, will also act as investor and coordinator for the second project. PGE will be responsible for analyzing potential sites and, in cooperation with technology suppliers, preparing preliminary feasibility studies. The agreement is intended to enable both companies to leverage their experience and improve coordination of preparatory work.

Construction decision will depend on analyses and technology selection

Bełchatów and Konin remain the preferred locations for the second nuclear power plant. Both regions have well-developed energy infrastructure and decades of experience in electricity generation. The final site selection, however, will depend on the results of detailed surveys and technical analyses to confirm the investment’s feasibility.

A competitive dialogue is underway with interested parties from the United States, France and Canada. Its aim is to select a technology supplier and strategic partner, with the evaluation extending beyond the reactors’ technical design. Financing terms and opportunities for long-term strategic cooperation will also be taken into account.

According to the Ministry of Energy, large Generation III+ light-water reactors are being considered for the second plant, as for Poland’s first nuclear power plant. No specific technology or supplier has yet been selected. The selection process will also include the preparation of preliminary feasibility studies for each proposed solution.

First unit of second plant is due to start up around 2040

Under the updated Polish nuclear program, the strategic partner and technology are to be selected in 2027. Construction is expected to begin around 2032, with the first unit starting up around 2040. The schedule represents target dates for now, and meeting them will depend on the outcome of preparatory work and further decisions on implementing the project.

The updated Polish nuclear energy program envisages the construction of two large nuclear power plants with a total installed capacity of up to 9 GW. The new units are expected to gradually replace some coal-fired generating capacity and support the transformation of Poland’s electricity sector. Involving domestic industrial companies in the supply chain is also an important part of the program.

Poland’s first nuclear power plant is due to start operating in 2036

Poland’s first nuclear power plant is being developed at Lubiatowo-Kopalino in the municipality of Choczewo in the north of the country. The project comprises three Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors with a total installed capacity of approximately 3 750 MWe. The US company Bechtel is also involved in preparing and delivering the project.

In March 2026, PEJ submitted an application to the Polish nuclear regulator for a construction permit for a nuclear facility. Preparatory work is already underway at the site, while the first nuclear unit is scheduled to be poured in 2028. Under the current schedule, the first unit is due to begin commercial operation in 2036.

Experience gained in preparing the first plant is now expected to help the second project as well. According to PEJ CEO Marek Woszczyk, the company can draw in particular on its knowledge of administrative processes, cooperation with potential suppliers and management of a major nuclear investment. The second plant, however, still needs a site, technology and specific financing terms to be selected.