Poland
Poland is a signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and has signed and ratified the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), being one of the 44 listed countries needed to sign and ratify for the CTBT to enter into force.
In 1974 Poland ordered four reactors which were to be built at the Zarnowiec nuclear power plant. However, by 1990 the Parliament formerly stopped the project. Since then there have been various reports that the nuclear option will be revived.
In July 2006 Lithuania invited Poland to join with Estonia and Latvia in building a new large reactor in Lithuania, to replace the Ignalina units being shut down at EU insistence. A 2006 feasibility study, undertaken on behalf of the three Baltic states, showed that a new plant costing EUR 2.5 to 4.0 billion would be economically attractive and could be on line in 2015.
In February 2007 the three Baltic states and Poland agreed to build a new nuclear plant at Ignalina, initially with 3200 MWe. Lithuania, as host country, will have 34% of the project, with Poland, Latvia and Estonia 22% each. At least one unit of the project is expected to be operating by 2015. Total cost will be some EUR 6 billion. Energy company E.On earlier expressed interest in investing in such a unit.
A public opinion poll in December 2006 carried out for the National Atomic Energy Agency showed that 60% supported construction of nuclear power plants, with 48% saying they would favour such a plant being built in their neighbourhood because of its immediate local benefits including lower power cost.
Read the profile on Poland from the Model Nuclear Inventory (pdf), produced by the Reaching Critical Will project of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom.
