SMRs could be integrated into Poland’s power system before 2040.

Energy Minister Miłosz Motyka has announced that Poland should be ready to connect the first small modular reactors (SMRs) to the national power system before 2040. He identified the heating sector as one of the key directions for developing this technology, stressing that district heating could significantly benefit from nuclear‑based decarbonization.

During a visit to the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) in Świerk, the minister stated that the Polish Nuclear Power Programme will be updated in the coming months. We have completed the stage of collecting comments, and now we are moving on to their analysis. The programme should be updated within a few months, he said.

Large nuclear plant in Pomerania – schedule unchanged

Motyka confirmed that procedures related to obtaining a construction permit for Poland’s first large nuclear power plant are progressing according to plan. The administrative decision is expected in 2027, and the first reactor in Pomerania should begin operation in the mid‑2030s. The contractor assumes the possibility of commissioning subsequent units at one‑year intervals, which will accelerate the investment process, he added.

SMRs in the state strategy

The minister emphasized that the government is simultaneously working on an SMR roadmap, which will be included in the new version of the “Polish Energy Policy until 2040”. The document is expected to be prepared later this summer. Poland is already part of the global nuclear supply chain, and we want to strengthen this position, including in the area of small modular reactors, he noted.

Motyka added that no SMR installation anywhere in the world has yet been connected to a national power grid—the first is likely to be in Canada.

The “Maria” reactor returns to full power

During the visit to NCBJ, the minister announced that the “Maria” research reactor has received an indefinite operating permit. After a downtime period, it is expected to reach full power again within hours. Modernization of the unit should be completed in 2027, enabling at least another 20 years of operation—without the need to interrupt its work.

Prof. Agnieszka Pollo, acting director of NCBJ, pointed out the challenge of stable financing. “Maintaining the reactor costs around PLN 50 million per year, and currently there is no permanent source of funding. We hope this will be resolved soon,” she said.

“Maria” is one of only six reactors of its kind in the world and plays a significant role in global nuclear medicine. It provides around 10 percent of the world’s molybdenum‑99 production and is a major supplier of iodine‑131—key isotopes used in cancer diagnostics and treatment.