Planned nuclear power plant launch date ‘unrealistic’ – NIK

The planned launch date of Poland’s first nuclear power plant at end-2014 is “unrealistic” according to the Supreme Audit Chamber NIK. “The level of progress on works indicates a high probability of its launch after 2030. NIK points out the lack of implementation of the basic tasks specified in the schedule, related to the preparation of the first Polish nuclear power plant. The Ministers of Economy and Energy (in 2014-2017) having sufficient arguments for the development of nuclear energy did not submit applications to the Council of Ministers to take strategic decisions on the launch of the construction of a nuclear power plant,” NIK said. Over 5-year delays in the project “could imply high costs for the country's economy related to the purchase of CO2 emission rights. Depending on the scenario they are estimated between PLN 1.5-2.6 billion,” NIK added. According to the audit estimates, between 2014-2017, Poland spent PLN 776 million on the project, with PLN 552.5 million being spent by the government, and PLN 223.5 million by the state-owned utilities involved in the project. NIK also added that so far, the SPV set up for this project, PGE EJ1, has not implemented any of the tasks planned for the first phase of the project which ended on end-2016. Poland wants to have 4.5 GW nuclear power capacity by 2040. Previous estimates put the cost of the plant at PLN 60 billion.