Poland’s first nuclear power plant is still years away from being able to produce electricity, but a new report is already raising concerns about whether the project may exceed its original budget.
What is happening?
According to a report issued by Polish Economic InstituteEarly warning signs are emerging for Poland’s first nuclear facility, with construction scheduled to begin at the end of 2025. While the government hopes the plant will boost energy security and reduce reliance on coal, the report warns that delays could cause massive cost overruns before any power is generated (via TVB World).
The project, which will use three reactors supplied by Westinghouse and built in collaboration with engineering firm Bechtel, was expected to deliver first power by 2033. That timeline has been updated to 2036. Late-stage delays are particularly expensive, the institute warned, estimating that each one-month delay near completion could cost PLN 431-667 million ($119-184 million) in lost electricity revenue. Interest payments are rising.
The report draws on recent European examples, including Flamanville 3 in France, Olkiluoto 3 in Finland, and Hinkley Point C in the United Kingdom – all of which were delayed for years and ballooned beyond their original budgets.
“The experience of Western countries shows that the total cost of building a nuclear power plant exceeds initial estimates by two to five times,” PIE wrote.
Why does the nuclear project in Poland cause concern?
For Poland, this plant could be something great. Nuclear power can provide large amounts of low-pollution electricity and help stabilize the grid as coal is phased out. But in addition to concerns about radioactive waste and safety, nuclear projects also carry high financial risks.
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PIE has identified four main pressure points: a global shortage of key reactor components, a lack of domestic nuclear expertise and skilled labor, high financing costs and high interest rates, and the risk that future political shifts will disrupt long-term support for the project. Combined, these factors can turn modest delays into multi-billion-dollar surpluses—costs that ultimately fall on taxpayers or consumers who use the electricity.
What is going on about it?
The report does not argue against nuclear power. Instead, Poland urges slowing down before speeding up. It recommended finalizing reactor designs before construction begins, finding reliable suppliers early, investing heavily in workforce training, and securing low-cost financing as soon as possible.
If these steps are taken seriously, the institute noted, Poland can still avoid the worst-case scenarios that have occurred elsewhere. But for first-time nuclear power manufacturers, the most costly mistakes often occur before the concrete is poured, according to this report.
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