17 Oct (NucNet): The Polish ministry of economy has adopted a plan which defines the organisation of activities necessary to implement a civil nuclear power programme in the country, the ministry has said in a statement.

The Polish Nuclear Power Programme (PPEJ) says construction and bringing into operation of the first nuclear unit should be completed by the end of 2024, when additional units should already be in consideration or under construction.



The programme also says a second nuclear plant should be ready before 2035.



The proposed schedule says a site selection procedure and tender process should be concluded by the end of 2016 and the licensing process should be completed by the end of 2018.



The main aim of the PPEJ is to outline the objectives for implementation of nuclear power in Poland, develop the economic justification and a financing programme, and to launch a site selection process including safety and environmental protection analyses, the ministry statement said.



The PPEJ amends Polish nuclear law by adding or amending 45 regulations. The amendments focus on updating existing regulations taking into account the March 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi accident.



It also proposes an act on the preparation and execution of “nuclear facility projects” and associated investments, the statement said.



The PPEJ went through a comprehensive public consultation process during which more than 100 stakeholders submitted approximately 300 comments.



It was developed and reviewed by the International Atomic Energy Agency, which visited Poland in March and April 2013 as part of Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review and Integrated Nuclear Regulatory Review missions.



The PPEJ was also the subject of a cross-border public consultation involving neighbouring countries. Between July and December 2012 expert-level meetings were held with Slovakia, Austria, Germany and Denmark.



The PPEJ will now be submitted for review by other ministries and then be formally adopted by the Council of Ministers, which should happen by the end of this year, the statement said.

