Poland’s first SMR nuclear power plant will be built in Włocławek.

Poland has taken a decisive step toward a new era of nuclear energy. ORLEN and Synthos Green Energy have finalized negotiations concerning OSGE, the company responsible for developing small modular reactor (SMR) projects. A key element of the agreement is the selection of Włocławek as the site of Poland’s first—and simultaneously Europe’s first—BWRX‑300 nuclear power plant.

Equal rights, clear rules

The agreement defines the functioning of OSGE, in which ORLEN and Synthos each hold 50 percent of shares. Both parties have gained equal ownership rights, while the fuel‑and‑energy conglomerate has strengthened its position in key corporate decisions.

The new cooperation model introduces rotation in the roles of CEO and chair of the supervisory board—every three years the companies will switch positions. ORLEN will appoint the first chair of the supervisory board, while the CEO position has been assigned to Synthos.

Additionally, a Steering Committee has been established to oversee ongoing activities and investment projects, including special‑purpose vehicles created for the construction of subsequent reactors.

Access to American technology

The foundation of the agreement is a license for the American BWRX‑300 technology developed by GE Vernova. It is one of the world’s most advanced SMR solutions, giving Poland a pathway to rapid deployment of next‑generation nuclear energy.

We are building the energy of tomorrow. The negotiations lasted over a year, and their result fully secures ORLEN’s interests. Thanks to the agreement, we have direct access to American technology, which allows us to realistically begin the process of building an SMR in Włocławek, said Ireneusz Fąfara, CEO of ORLEN Group.

Ambitious plans for 2035

In its strategy “Energy of Tomorrow Begins Today”, ORLEN assumes that by 2035 at least two BWRX‑300 reactors with a total capacity of 600 MW will be built in Poland. The first of them—located in Włocławek—is expected to be a breakthrough project not only for Poland but for Europe’s energy transition.

Thanks to SMRs, Poland could gain stable, zero‑emission energy sources that fill the gap between variable renewables and the large nuclear units planned for the second half of the 2030s.

Włocławek as a symbol of new energy

The choice of Włocławek is no coincidence—it is a strategic location for ORLEN Group, home to extensive industrial infrastructure. It is here that Europe’s first SMR project will materialize, with the potential to become a reference point for other countries in the region.

The construction of a BWRX‑300 reactor in Poland is not only an investment in new generation capacity, but also in the future of the national economy and the country’s energy security.