Poland Files Permit for First Nuclear Plant with Three US Reactors, Aims 2036 Launch
By Aamir Khollam
Backed by US tech, Poland’s nuclear push advances with a permit application covering safety, design, and construction plans.
Poland has taken a major step toward building its first nuclear power plant, moving closer to long-term energy security and industrial stability.
State-owned Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) has submitted a construction permit application to National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA).
Officials confirmed the filing this week, marking a key milestone in the country’s nuclear ambitions.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced the development ahead of a cabinet meeting, calling it significant progress.
The application includes more than 40,000 pages of technical and regulatory documentation.
Massive safety documentation
A central component of the submission is the Preliminary Safety Analysis Report (PSAR).
This report outlines the plant’s design, location, and safety systems.
Engineers and safety experts compiled extensive technical and environmental analyses.
Historyczny krok dla polskiego atomu.
Złożyliśmy do Prezesa @PAAtomistyki wniosek o zezwolenie na budowę pierwszej polskiej elektrowni jądrowej – pół roku przed zakładanym w harmonogramie terminem.
Wniosek to merytoryczny fundament dotyczący bezpieczeństwa jądrowego przed… pic.twitter.com/PPafTWuQNS
— Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (@PEJ_PL) March 31, 2026
These demonstrate compliance with nuclear safety, radiation protection, and material safeguards standards.
The application also includes a quality assurance program, safety classifications, and physical protection system designs. It outlines emergency response planning and confirms PEJ’s technical and organizational readiness.
PEJ said more than 200 specialists contributed to the submission.
The team completed the work six months ahead of schedule.
Calling the filing a major milestone, PEJ President Marek Woszczyk described the moment as pivotal for the project, as reported by World Nuclear News.
“This is one of the most important days for the implementation of the project for the first Polish nuclear power plant,” he said, adding that it marks the first such application in modern Poland since 1989.
Woszczyk also pointed to the scale of the submission, noting that more than 40,000 pages of documentation reflect the complexity of the project and the extensive work carried out by PEJ teams.
US reactor technology selected
Poland selected the Westinghouse Electric Company AP1000 reactor design in 2022.
The plant will use three units built by a Westinghouse-Bechtel consortium.
The site sits in Choczewo, in northern Poland’s Pomerania region. The project aligns closely with US-backed nuclear technology exports.
Officials say the investment will stabilize energy prices and support industrial growth.
“Submitting an application for a construction permit for the first nuclear power plant in Poland is a signal that we are determined to pursue an investment that will guarantee stable energy prices for Polish families for decades and drive modern industry,” said Minister Wojciech Wrochna.
The PAA will now begin a formal and legal review of the application. The agency must issue a decision within 24 months.
“Before proceeding to the substantive assessment, the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency will conduct a formal and legal review of the licence application,” the PAA said.
“Only after this assessment is completed… will we notify the initiation of this process in the PAA Public Information Bulletin.”
The regulator will then conduct a multi-stage safety assessment.
Independent laboratories and expert organizations will support parts of the review.
PEJ expects to pour first concrete in 2028. Each reactor will take about seven years to build, followed by testing.
The first unit should begin operations in 2036. The second and third units will follow by 2038.
Original source: https://interestingengineering.com/energy/poland-first-nuclear-plant-permit