Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe

Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe sp. z o.o., commonly abbreviated as PEJ, is a Polish state-owned special-purpose company responsible for developing the country's planned commercial nuclear power programme. The company is wholly owned by Poland's State Treasury and is tasked with preparing, coordinating and advancing nuclear power projects rather than operating an established fleet of reactors. Its remit covers the development of approximately 6 to 9 GWe of new nuclear generation capacity based on proven large-scale Generation III or III+ pressurized-water reactor technologies, including designs such as Westinghouse's AP1000, the APR-1400 and the EPR. PEJ's institutional functions were previously carried out within the PGE Group, Poland's major state-controlled energy group. They were separated from PGE and placed in a dedicated vehicle by March 2021, reflecting the government's effort to give the nuclear programme a specialized developer with a distinct project, licensing and financing mandate. The company is therefore a central instrument of Poland's long-term energy strategy, particularly its effort to diversify away from coal while strengthening energy security and reducing power-sector emissions. The first planned nuclear power station is intended for Poland's Baltic coast. Following a screening process involving 92 potential locations, the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in the Choczewo commune of Pomeranian Voivodeship was announced as the preferred location on December 22, 2021. Earlier comparative work had focused on two sites in Pomerania, Żarnowiec and Lubiatowo-Kopalino. The environmental impact assessment submitted in March 2022 considered a multi-reactor facility with potential capacity of up to 3,750 MWe at the selected site. The Polish government selected Westinghouse's AP1000 technology for the first plant in November 2022. PEJ subsequently progressed through the administrative and engineering stages required for the project. In August 2023 it applied for a location decision, while a Westinghouse–Bechtel consortium signed an engineering development agreement in September of that year. Regional authorization for preparatory work followed in October 2023, although that authorization was not itself a construction permit. In July 2024, Poland's Ministry of Climate and Environment agreed in principle to the construction programme. Project plans described a first unit entering commercial operation in 2036, subject to the remaining approvals, financing and construction timetable. PEJ's activities include site characterization, environmental and location procedures, technology and engineering coordination, preparation for licensing, contractor management and financing arrangements. The company is also associated with the exploration of a second, inland nuclear power station that would follow the coastal project. The proposed programme remains developmental: the material available for this entry does not establish that PEJ has completed a commercial reactor, begun nuclear generation or reached final operation at any site. Its importance lies in serving as the institutional developer through which Poland is attempting to establish its first nuclear power plants.

Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe was established as a dedicated vehicle for Poland's nuclear power development programme. Before March 2021, the relevant nuclear-development functions were located within the PGE Group. Their separation into PEJ gave the programme a specialized entity responsible for coordinating site development, reactor technology, engineering, environmental work, licensing preparation and project financing. PEJ is wholly owned by Poland's State Treasury and is not described in the available material as a listed company. The company's central project is Poland's first planned commercial nuclear power station on the Baltic coast. PGE and PEJ screened 92 possible locations before narrowing the assessment to two sites in Pomeranian Voivodeship: Żarnowiec and Lubiatowo-Kopalino. On December 22, 2021, PEJ announced Lubiatowo-Kopalino, in the Choczewo commune of Wejherowo County, as the preferred location. The site assessment continued through environmental and administrative procedures. On March 29, 2022, an environmental impact assessment was submitted to Poland's General Director for Environmental Protection. The assessment considered several reactors with combined capacity of up to 3,750 MWe. The technology decision was an important subsequent milestone. In November 2022, the Polish government selected Westinghouse's AP1000 pressurized-water reactor design for the first station. The AP1000 is a large-scale Generation III+ reactor technology. PEJ's wider mandate is not limited to one reactor design: the company has been charged with developing 6 to 9 GWe of nuclear capacity using proven large-scale Generation III or III+ pressurized-water reactors, with the AP1000, APR-1400 and EPR identified as examples of relevant technology. During 2023, the project moved further into administrative and engineering preparation. PEJ submitted an application for a location decision to the Head of the Pomeranian Voivodeship on August 22. In September, it signed an engineering development agreement with the Westinghouse–Bechtel consortium. In October, the Pomeranian regional authority authorized preparatory work at the site. This authorization was part of the pathway toward construction but did not replace a future construction permit. In July 2024, the Ministry of Climate and Environment agreed in principle to the construction programme. Project plans associated with the development described first-unit commercial operation in 2036. The available material does not establish that construction had begun, that the plant had obtained every required permit or that PEJ was operating a nuclear generating facility. A second, inland nuclear plant has also been explored as a possible later project. The available reference material additionally describes a February 2026 financing arrangement with the Export–Import Bank of the United States for preparatory and engineering work, including refinancing work performed by the Westinghouse–Bechtel consortium. It also describes intended Polish equity support, National Development Bank participation and a proposed long-term contract-for-difference mechanism. These financing details are included as reported project plans rather than as evidence that the full plant financing or construction programme had been completed.

• 2024

  Construction approved in principle

  [1]Polskie Elektrownie Jądroween.wikipedia.org

  Poland's Ministry of Climate and Environment agreed in principle to construction of the planned nuclear power station.

• 2023

  Location decision application submitted

  [1]Polskie Elektrownie Jądroween.wikipedia.org

  PEJ submitted the application for the location decision required for the first plant in Pomerania.

• 2023

  Engineering development agreement signed

  [1]Polskie Elektrownie Jądroween.wikipedia.org

  PEJ signed an engineering development agreement with the Westinghouse–Bechtel consortium.

• 2022

  Environmental impact assessment submitted

  [1]Polskie Elektrownie Jądroween.wikipedia.org

  The project environmental assessment was submitted to the General Director for Environmental Protection and considered a multi-reactor facility of up to 3,750 MWe.

• 2022

  AP1000 selected for the first station

  [1]Polskie Elektrownie Jądroween.wikipedia.org

  The Polish government selected Westinghouse's AP1000 technology for the planned coastal nuclear power station.

• 2021

  Nuclear functions separated from PGE

  [1]Polskie Elektrownie Jądroween.wikipedia.org

  By March 2021, Poland's nuclear-development functions had been moved from the PGE Group into PEJ, a dedicated state-owned project vehicle.

• 2021

  Lubiatowo-Kopalino selected as preferred site

  [1]Polskie Elektrownie Jądroween.wikipedia.org

  PEJ announced the Lubiatowo-Kopalino location in Choczewo commune as the preferred site for Poland's first commercial nuclear power plant.

State-owned national nuclear project developer focused on Poland's first commercial nuclear power stations, energy security and the transition toward a lower-emission electricity system.

• Nuclear power plant project

  Lubiatowo-Kopalino nuclear power plant

  PEJ's principal development project is a planned multi-unit nuclear power station at Lubiatowo-Kopalino in Choczewo commune, on Poland's Baltic coast. The environmental assessment considered total capacity of up to 3,750 MWe. The project is based on Westinghouse AP1000 technology and is being advanced through site, environmental, administrative, engineering and financing stages. The first unit has been associated with a planned commercial-operation target of 2036, subject to approvals and construction progress.

• Nuclear power plant project

  Inland nuclear power plant programme

  PEJ has explored a second nuclear power station at an inland location as a potential follow-on to the Baltic-coast project. The available reference material does not identify a final site, reactor technology, capacity, construction date or operating date for this prospective project.

• 2026

  Reported financing support for preparatory workStrategy

  Background

  The planned AP1000 project required financing for preparatory and engineering activities and for the later construction programme.

  Action taken

  The reference material reports that PEJ agreed a loan arrangement with the Export–Import Bank of the United States for preparatory and engineering work, including refinancing work already performed by the Westinghouse–Bechtel consortium.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement was presented as a possible foundation for subsequent financing involving U.S. support and Poland's National Development Bank. The referenced project plans also described intended state equity support and a long-term contract-for-difference mechanism, but these plans do not establish completed financing or construction.

  Reported planned project cost. $17.8 billion (Project plan reported in the reference material; timing of the cost estimate is not independently specified)

  Source

• 2023

  Engineering partnership for the first plantStrategy

  Background

  Following the reactor-technology selection, PEJ required engineering and project-development support for the coastal nuclear station.

  Action taken

  PEJ signed an engineering development agreement with the Westinghouse–Bechtel consortium.

  Aftermath

  The agreement advanced the project from technology selection toward detailed engineering and preparation for later licensing and construction stages.

  Source

• 2022

  Selection of AP1000 reactor technologyProduct launch

  Background

  Poland needed a reactor technology for its first planned commercial nuclear power station.

  Action taken

  The Polish government selected Westinghouse's AP1000 pressurized-water reactor design for the planned coastal plant.

  Aftermath

  PEJ's first major project proceeded with Westinghouse and Bechtel engineering involvement, while broader national nuclear capacity ambitions remained under development.

  Source

1. 1Polskie Elektrownie Jądroween.wikipedia.org
2. 2Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe official websitepgeej1.pl