Poland's First Nuclear Power Plant Enters New Phase with Deepening Polish Enterprise Participation

Poland's first nuclear power plant (Lubiatowo-Kopalino site) has transitioned from the preparatory stage to substantive on-site construction. On August 12, Polish Nuclear Power Company (PEJ) officially handed over the construction site to the general contractor, American company Bechtel, while Budimex, one of Poland's largest construction firms, commenced earthworks. This marks another significant milestone for the project following the securing of financing, the refinement of the legal framework, and support from technology partners. Polish Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka stated that this investment will enhance Poland's energy security and sovereignty, while creating stable and predictable energy prices for households and businesses.

To date, PEJ has signed contracts with approximately 475 Polish enterprises, with over 70 of them from the Pomeranian region, totaling approximately 370 million zlotys. The total contract value of the entire project has exceeded 1.2 billion zlotys. State Secretary Eliza Cejdler stated that this project provides a tremendous opportunity for the Pomeranian region and local enterprises to strengthen national and local supply chains, while also leaving behind technical capabilities that can be leveraged in the future. Leszek Hołda, President of Bechtel Poland, noted that Budimex is already the fifth Polish company to sign a contract with the company this year, reflecting the project's high reliance on domestic enterprises.

Following Bechtel's official takeover of on-site coordination, earthworks commenced immediately. The initial scope of work includes site grading, the renovation and expansion of the drainage system, the construction of approximately 16 kilometers of temporary roads, and land preparation for future technical, logistics, and ancillary production facilities. The construction support area will include fuel storage and vehicle refueling zones, a car wash, equipment maintenance workshops, material storage yards and warehouses, as well as office and sanitary facilities. Earthmoving and ground leveling will be carried out across a construction area exceeding 300 hectares, along with the construction of additional embankments. Approximately 6 kilometers of drainage ditches, culverts, and erosion control structures will also be built. This phase of work is scheduled to be executed from the third quarter of 2026 to the first quarter of 2029. Currently, more than 200 workers are on site, with numbers expected to continue increasing in the coming months. Additionally, Bechtel has opened a new office in Pomerania, with the Gdańsk branch set to become its primary operational and engineering base for the AP1000 project.