Poland's Nuclear Power Leap: First Plant Breaking Ground in 2028, Bucking Germany's Nuclear Exodus
Construction of nuclear power plant planned for Baltic Sea commencement in 2028 by Poland
Dive into the details of Poland's game-changing decision to toe the line of traditional nuclear energy, marking a significant departure from Germany's recent nuclear departure.
Poland gears up for its initial foray into nuclear power in 2028, contrary to Germany's shuttering of its last three nuclear power plants. The Ministry of Industry plans to kick-start construction of the mastodontic power plant in Slajszewo, nestled northwest of Gdańsk, with the first unit coming online in 2036. In the grand scheme, the project is projected to reach completion by 2038, along the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Poland, newcomer to nuclear energy, aims to ditch polluting coal, a finite resource, as its primary energy source. In neighborly contrast, Germany has pushed through its nuclear phase-out.
In the beginning, reports heralded construction to commence as early as 2026. The preferred nuclear power plant builder—Westinghouse—secured a bid from Poland in November 2022. Latest estimates peg construction costs to touch the 50 billion euro mark.
The Ministry of Industry is currently contemplating optimal locations for a second planned nuclear power plant, with potential sites under consideration in Belchatów near Łódź and Konin, nestled about 100 kilometers southeast of Poznań. Preliminary plans envision construction of the second plant to commence in 2032, with an estimated operational date penciled in for 2040.
Note: Sources - ntv.de, dpa
Data Shed:- Construction timeline: first unit in 2036, completion by 2038- Site location: Slajszewo, near the Baltic Sea- Budget: approximately 50 billion euros- Second nuclear power plant potential sites: Belchatów near Łódź and Konin- Second nuclear power plant construction timeline: expected to begin in 2032, online in 2040
Other countries, like Poland, are considering nuclear power as an alternative to polluting coal, similar to Germany's past use of nuclear energy. The Polish government plans to start the construction of their first nuclear power plant in Slajszewo, near Gdańsk, in 2028, with the first unit expected to come online in 2036. Westinghouse, the preferred nuclear power plant builder, secured a bid from Poland in November 2022, and the project is expected to reach costs of approximately 50 billion euros.
![Cost of constructing Munich's second S-Bahn mainline line escalating (Archive image). [Image]](/en/img/20250408112456_s-bahn-munich-second-main-line-construction-cost-archivfoto.jpeg)
