Poland mulls nuclear options

2006-12-14

The Polish government is considering options for introducing nuclear power between 2020 and 2030 or possibly earlier. A recent feasibility study suggested that 11.5 GWe of nuclear capacity would be optimum for Poland but possibly unaffordable in that time frame, so 4.5 GWe by 2030 is now targeted. Meanwhile, an EUR 650 million high-voltage "energy bridge" to improve transmission capacity between Lithuania and Poland is proposed and Lithuania has invited Polish participation in building a Baltic states' nuclear plant to replace its Soviet-era Iganalina reactors. Polish participation would justify a larger and more economical unit such as an EPR. A feasibility study, undertaken on behalf of the three Baltic states, showed that a new plant costing EUR 2.5 to 4.0 billion would be economically attractive and could be on line in 2015. （Nucleonics Week, 7/12/06）