One step closer to the Polish nuclear power plant. The bill returns to the Sejm

The Senate amended an amendment to the Law on the preparation and implementation of investments in nuclear power facilities and related investments, regarding the definition of a nuclear power plant, related investments and requirements for compensation from the state treasury to entrepreneurs in case of damage from activities in communes where such investments are made.

Nuclear law returns to the Sejm

93 senators voted in favor of the amended amendment, one was against, and four abstained from voting. The purpose of the amendment is to simplify and speed up the construction of a nuclear power plant up to several months compared to current standards.

The Senate made some amendments to it. According to one of them, the main definition of a nuclear power plant will be the definition contained in the Atomic Law.

Another of the amendments suggests that a permit for the construction of a nuclear facility, which is also a nuclear power plant, can be issued after obtaining a decision on permission to use a road or rail line with an associated rail infrastructure, with the status of an investment accompanying an investment in the construction of this nuclear facility. .

The Senate also wants the investor to be required - at the request of owners or perpetual usufructuaries of real estate - to provide a replacement real estate, providing a reconstruction of their current life and financial situation. The senators also introduced an amendment, according to which, in the event of expropriation, the amount of compensation could not be lower than the cost of replacing real estate without taking into account the degree of wear and tear, and in the case of residential premises, this could not but worsen the living conditions of the current owner.

Nuclear investment should be shorter

According to assumptions, the amendment should lead to a reduction in the implementation of investments - even by several months (according to the estimates of the Ministry of Culture and Ecology - by 12-18 months) in relation to the current standards. The reduction of the investment process translates into cost savings for the project, incl. management expenses.

The amendment expands the list of associated investments to include investments required for environmental and exploration studies for the construction of a nuclear power plant and associated infrastructure. It places the so-called principle decision at the initial stage of the process - before deciding on the location of investment.

It extends the decision to indicate the place of investment and the permission to enter the property also to measurements, tests or other work that is necessary for the preparation of an environmental impact report of the project.

Permission for temporary operation of the power plant

The amendment introduces the possibility of temporary operation of a nuclear facility after obtaining a commissioning permit. Prior to the issuance of a license to operate a nuclear facility, but not more than for the period specified in the commissioning license, the operation of a nuclear facility may be carried out on the basis of a license and an act of commissioning a nuclear facility approved by the President of the Russian Federation. National Atomic Energy Agency. This decision will allow to avoid shutdown of the power unit for many months.

According to the adopted schedule, the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Poland will begin in 2026, and in 2033 the first nuclear power unit with a capacity of approximately 1-1.6 GW will be put into operation. Subsequent units will be commissioned every 2-3 years, and the entire nuclear program involves the construction of 6 nuclear units with a total installed capacity of approximately 6 to 9 GW based on large, proven Generation III(+) PWR nuclear reactors.