Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ) – Polish Nuclear Power Plants – has formally handed over the construction site for Poland's first nuclear power plant to Bechtel at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino location in the Pomeranian region. The site covers approximately 330 hectares and will host the largest energy investment in Poland's history.

As Marek Woszczyk, President of Polish Nuclear Power Plants (PEJ), emphasised, the physical handover of the site took place over the past few weeks. On Wednesday, the completion of the process was officially announced at the future power plant site. Polish Nuclear Power Plants is a state-owned company responsible for preparing and delivering the Polish Nuclear Power Programme. Its role is to oversee the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant and act as the project's investor.

According to President Woszczyk, implementation of the contract is progressing in line with the planned schedule, with the project remaining free of delays. The transfer of the site to Bechtel is expected to help maintain this positive momentum and keep the project on schedule.

One of the key prerequisites for the smooth delivery of the project is the development of adequate logistics infrastructure. As President Woszczyk pointed out, construction of the nuclear power plant itself must progress in parallel with a series of enabling investments, including new road and rail infrastructure, as well as the construction of the Marine Off-Loading Facility (MOLF). Scheduled for completion in 2029, the terminal will enable the unloading and transport of the heaviest and oversized power plant components, including reactor pressure vessels, steam generators and other multi-tonne equipment delivered by sea. The efficient operation of the entire transport and logistics network will be critical to maintaining the construction schedule and ensuring the timely delivery of specialised equipment from overseas.

Responsibility and pace

Speaking during the ceremony, Marek Hołda, President of Bechtel Polska, said the site had been placed "in capable hands that have been delivering the world's most complex projects for many years." He also described cooperation with PEJ and both central and local government authorities on the nuclear project as "exemplary".

The handover of the construction site formally transfers responsibility for managing the area and ensuring its safety to the contractor. At the same time, it paves the way for accelerating further preparatory works, including earthworks, the construction of site facilities and the infrastructure required before the main construction phase can begin, Hołda stressed.

Bechtel is one of the world's largest engineering and construction companies, with decades of experience in delivering major infrastructure, industrial and energy projects, including nuclear power plants. In Poland, the company, together with its US technology partner Westinghouse, is responsible for the design and construction of the country's first nuclear power plant.

More than energy

Also attending the ceremony, Minister of Energy Miłosz Motyka stressed that the nuclear power plant represents the largest investment project in Poland's history. He noted that it would not only guarantee stable electricity supplies at reasonable prices, but also create an opportunity to establish a domestic nuclear supply chain based on Polish capabilities and develop a national specialisation in nuclear energy.

"Already today, hundreds of Polish companies are involved in the construction of the power plant, providing the services, technologies and expertise required to deliver this investment. Our objective is to ensure that the largest possible share of the project's value remains in Poland—strengthening the capabilities of Polish businesses, creating high-quality jobs, developing domestic expertise and building lasting competitive advantages for the Polish economy for decades to come" – said Minister of Energy Miłosz Motyka.

Poland's first nuclear power plant will be built in the municipality of Choczewo in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The facility will comprise three AP1000 reactors with a combined generating capacity of approximately 3.75 GW. Under the current schedule, the first unit is expected to enter commercial operation in the second half of the 2030s, while the entire power plant is designed to generate electricity for at least 60 years, strengthening Poland's energy security and reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

The current construction site covers approximately 330 hectares. Once construction has been completed, around 100 hectares will be reforested and returned to nature.

Photo: Bechtel press release