Polish companies could play a significant role in the construction and maintenance of the country’s first nuclear power plant. Experts emphasize, however, that this will require meeting strict standards related to quality, safety, and adaptation to the specific requirements of the nuclear sector. According to Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe (PEJ), the state-owned company responsible for the project, an increasing number of companies are declaring their willingness to upgrade their qualifications and obtain the necessary certifications. Building a sufficiently skilled workforce remains a major challenge, however, and one that is also affecting other European countries.
“The potential for Polish companies to participate in the construction of nuclear power plants is very large. Over the past several years they have taken part in various infrastructure projects, major non-nuclear investments, petrochemical developments, railway construction and many other ventures. Therefore, when it comes to manufacturing equipment, infrastructure or structural components, our companies have nothing to be ashamed of,” said Dr. Eng. Jerzy Niagaj from the Łukasiewicz – Upper Silesian Institute of Technology in Gliwice in an interview with the Newseria news agency.
According to the report “How Much Poland Is in Nuclear?” published by the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), 70 out of 100 surveyed companies from the construction, engineering and machinery sectors said that their existing experience in the energy industry could be used within the nuclear project. Every third company declared experience from other nuclear projects abroad. These basic competencies are expected to form the foundation for Polish enterprises to enter more demanding nuclear-related work.
“Polish companies already cooperate with the French nuclear industry, which has a large program for building and servicing nuclear power plants. The French cannot do everything themselves, so some work is subcontracted to Polish companies. In addition, many large French corporations have branches in Poland that perform such work. So some experience already exists, but it is not yet as extensive as what will be required for our national project,” the expert from the Upper Silesian Institute of Technology explained.
Demand for qualified specialists is enormous. According to estimates by Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, at the peak of construction more than 10,000 people will be working on the building site. Workforce shortages are not only a challenge for Poland, which is building its first nuclear power plant, but also for many other countries across Europe.
“Many of the specialists we had in the past are no longer young or have moved to other industries. For many years there was limited demand for nuclear materials and equipment, so experts migrated to other sectors, companies closed or were absorbed by larger corporations, and with them the knowledge and experience related to nuclear energy was lost,” explained Russell Offringa, Operations Director at Bureau Veritas North America in Fort Worth, Texas.
According to the Polish Economic Institute, at least 40% of the value of the first nuclear power plant is expected to come from domestic suppliers. Such a level of local participation represents significant potential for the labour market and the development of a broader nuclear industry ecosystem. Experts stress that the experience gained during this project could later be used in other nuclear initiatives in Poland, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), or in international projects.
“We have significant opportunities for construction and mechanical engineering companies, particularly those producing steel structures such as tanks and pipelines. This is especially true for components classified at the lowest level of ‘safety-related’ importance for nuclear safety. Of course, such work comes with additional requirements that companies must meet. However, even some components important for nuclear safety are extremely large and cannot realistically be transported from another part of the world – they have to be produced locally. Our companies are capable of doing this because they already have the necessary experience,” said Dr. Niagaj.
“We have many companies manufacturing steel structures for other industries, so they could also work for the nuclear sector, provided they obtain the required certifications and implement quality management systems specific to this industry. Small pressure vessels, pipelines, pumps and valves – all of these are within the capabilities of Polish firms,” he added.
Experts also remind that nuclear safety requires strict compliance with regulations and multi-layered supervision. In countries such as France or the United States, it is standard practice for reactor components to undergo triple inspection, whereas in conventional energy infrastructure a single inspection is usually sufficient. This is one of the reasons why entering the nuclear sector requires not only technical skills but also a transformation in safety culture – the so-called nuclear safety culture. Specialized competencies are also required in areas such as monitoring and regulatory oversight.
“Nuclear power plants must fulfil three main safety functions. One of them is controlling radioactivity, which allows radioactive materials to be contained and removed from the reactor. This means we must comply with very strict rules in design, manufacturing and inspection. Oversight of nuclear power plant operations involves the French Nuclear Safety Authority and external organisations that verify compliance with regulations,” said Frantz de la Burgade, Technical Manager at Bureau Veritas France, one of the world’s largest inspection and certification organisations.
“The process of producing equipment for nuclear power plants is extremely complex and highly regulated. Each country has different rules. What may be considered sufficient in the United States might not be acceptable in Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland or other countries. Navigating these regulatory frameworks is therefore another challenge. Regardless of the location, however, every nuclear power project requires extremely high quality standards,” Russell Offringa added.
According to information provided last year by Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe, since 2021 more than 380 contracts have been signed with Polish companies, with a combined value of approximately PLN 1 billion. Among the projects already underway are the construction of a technical road to the MOLF (marine offloading facility) by Budimex, as well as road upgrades and repairs carried out under five framework agreements.
In January, the Bechtel–Westinghouse consortium, the general contractor for the investment, selected Arabelle Solutions to supply steam turbine and generator systems for all three units of the nuclear power plant in Choczewo. These systems are among the key components required for the operation of the facility. Arabelle Solutions has long cooperated with numerous Polish suppliers of turbine components, control valves and welded structures. Its selection therefore creates new opportunities to expand the project’s local content.
To encourage Polish companies to join the supply chain for the nuclear project, a range of financial and development instruments is being prepared. These include development funds and loans available through national and regional institutions, support programs for companies planning to enter the offshore and nuclear energy sectors, as well as advisory tools and initiatives designed to improve competitiveness.
Support for companies seeking to build a domestic supply chain is also provided by the Polish Chamber of Commerce for Energy and Environmental Protection, which cooperates with PEJ in this effort. According to its representatives, companies need not only high and specialized competencies but also simplified procedures, greater access to information about planned tenders, and predictable conditions for participation in the supply chain.
The project to build Poland’s first nuclear power plant, which will be located in the Choczewo municipality in the Pomerania region, has entered an advanced stage of preparation. Preliminary works are already underway at the future construction site. At the same time, negotiations are ongoing regarding the main engineering, procurement and construction agreement with the American consortium Bechtel–Westinghouse.
