Experts highly rated the state of readiness in the regulatory, social and political area, and acceleration requires preparation in the technological, investment and systemic fields, especially when it comes to obtaining qualified staff.
Atomic readiness index
The report presents Atomic readiness index developed on the basis of six key criteria. The political aspect (9 out of 10 points in the index) was rated the highest, while regulatory and social areas scored 8 points. The lowest note (3 points) experts awarded the technological area, and investment and system issues, which include finances, staff, accompanying investments and preparation of public administration, obtained 4 points, and were mentioned.
Legal regulations
“Polish regulations reduce the overall level of risk associated with construction and operation of nuclear power plantswhich is very important from the point of view of planning and obtaining financing for these projects. However, there are still issues that may require a statutory solution, e.g. the functioning of insurance pools, strengthening the Local Content requirements at the ordering stage or determining the method of counting local content. Especially the latter issues are important because the construction and operation of the nuclear power plant are an opportunity for the development of the Polish economy and technology transfer, “said the partner managing the Sustainable Development and Energy Transformation team at Baker McKenza in Warsaw Agnieszka Skorupińska, quoted in the announcement.
Determining provisions The procedure for implementing and operating nuclear power plants They were implemented both at the level of laws and ordinances. They take into account facilitations for nuclear projects, they fit into the standards of safety and radiological protection. Polish regulations are consistent with international and European regulations. They are characterized by technological neutrality, which means that they allow the implementation of the investment independent of the planned power of the reactor and technology, indicated in the material.
“It is important to clearly define in current strategic documents the role and place of nuclear energy in the national power system and possibly in other sectors, e.g. in heating.
Social support for the atom
Experts point out that the social factor is also not an obstacle to starting the construction of a nuclear power plant in Poland. High support for the project is partly the result of the events of recent years – in particular Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and recurring discussions about the need for energy independence of the country.
Investment attractiveness
“A change in the perception of nuclear energy is also visible in the context transactional. A few years ago, institutional investors did not consider this sector attractive, fearing a high dependence on the regulator, a long investment horizon, limited possibilities of exit from the investment and the risk of changing the atom classification as sustainable energy source. We are currently observing the growing interest in transactions in this area – if not directly in the power plant, then in companies that are part of a wide chain of values related to nuclear energy ” – said the managing partner and co -controlling the transaction practice at Baker McKenza in Warsaw, Weronika Achramowicz.
In the context of investment readiness, experts estimate that signing a contract for a comprehensive construction of reactors in the EPC formula (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) may be delayed and will not take place only in 2028 or 2029, i.e. three years later from the originally assumed date.
A longer period should also be set up to obtain the consent of the European Commission to provide public aid in connection with the investment. Although the Commission is obliged to answer within 18 months of notification, with such complex projects this process usually lasts longer, it was emphasized.
“None of the nuclear projects implemented in Poland at the moment has entirely secured financing. The investment in EJ1, however, is the most advanced and obtaining missing funds should not constitute a significant obstacle to its implementation. The notification application to the European Commission provides for the provision of operational support in the form of a two -way differential contract, which is in accordance with the current practice and EU provisions in the field of public aid for nuclear projects ” – assessed the Senior Associate in a team of sustainable development and energy transformation at Baker McKenza in Warsaw, Arkadiusz Ratajczak.
Technological readiness
The authors of the report admitted the lowest rating to the technological area, which results from the fact that the reactor chosen for the first power plant is still waiting for the finalization of the license procedure. In addition, there are no plans to contract other components for power plants that have a long production process.
The EJ1 power plant is to have three reactors built in the AP1000 technology of the American company Westinghouse with a total power of 3.75 GW. In the notification application to the European Commission, the government determined the investment costs for the amount of PLN 192 billion, of which about PLN 60 billion is to have the form of direct recapitalization of the Pej company from the state treasury.
(ISBnews)
