Poland’s Ministry of Industry has given the green light of an investment for the modernisation and construction of a rail access to power plant in Lubiatowo-Kopalino, in Pomeranian Voivodeship.
The national rail infrastructure manager, PKP Polskie Linie Kolejowe (PKP PLK), is in the process of selecting a contractor for the design and construction work on railway line no. 229 on the Kartuzy – Lębork section which will ensure rail connection to the new Lubiatowo-Kopalino nuclear power plant.
The winner of the tender will prepare the investment project and carry out the construction work. The signing of the contract with the contractor is planned for the third quarter of this year, and the completion of the investment in the first quarter of 2028.
The full scope of work will be known after the preparation of the design documentation, developed by PLK which plans to announce the first tenders for construction works this year, starting with the modernisation of the Lębork – Łeba line. Completion of design works together with obtaining administrative decisions is planned for 2026, and completion of construction works in 2029.
Rail access to the planned nuclear power plant in the Choczewo commune will be provided in the first stage from the Lębork side with works on the section of line no. 229 Lębork – Łeba. PLK will also modernise line no. 230 on the Wejherowo – Choczewo section and build new sections of the line from Choczewo, through the nuclear power plant, to connect with line no. 229 in the area of Steknica station.
PLK will modernise the existing stations and stops, and will also build new stops.
The modernisation of line no. 229 on Kartuzy – Lębork rail section will provide an alternative access to the planned Lubiatowo-Kopalino nuclear power plant, including efficient and safe transport of cargo during its construction and operation.
It will also enable access to the Tri-City via Kartuzy for the western part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, especially for travellers from Słupsk and Lębork, during track closures on line no. 202 planned for modernisation on the Gdynia Chylonia – Lębork section.
This project will also deliver new opportunities for travelling by train in this part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. The rail access to power plant will be revitalised as the last time regular rail connections on the Kartuzy – Lębork route were operated was in 2000.
Following the project’s completion, freight trains running on the 60-km route will travel at a speed of up to 120 km/h, and passenger trains at up to 160 km/h.
Freight trains up to 750 meters long and with an axle load of 22.5 tonne/axle will reach the power plant.
“This is another important step towards ensuring rail access to the planned nuclear power plant during its construction and subsequent operation. We will do everything to efficiently and on time meet our obligations. The entire Pomerania and the Polish economy are waiting for this investment, as well as the residents of this part of the region, who will once again be able to use rail connections after many years,” said the member of the board of PKP PLK, Marcin Mochocki.
In December 2024, the European Commission opened an in-depth investigation to assess whether public support that Poland plans to grant for a nuclear power plant in Lubiatowo-Kopalino is in line with EU State aid rules.
The new plant is expected to start operation in 2030 and has total investment costs of PLN 192 billion (EUR 45 billion). The plant would increase security of electricity supply for Poland and for neighbouring countries, helping the decarbonisation of the energy sector and diversifying the Polish energy mix.
Based on its preliminary assessment, the EC has found that the aid package is necessary and has an incentive effect, as the beneficiary would not carry out the project without the public support. Nevertheless, the Commission has doubts at this stage on whether the measure is fully in line with EU State aid rules.
“The decision to initiate a formal investigation procedure is a key step forward in the implementation of the strategic project of building the first nuclear power plant in Poland. We share a common goal with the European Commission, which is to develop a solution that will allow for financing the project and ensuring low electricity prices for customers,” said the Government Plenipotentiary for Strategic Energy Infrastructure, Deputy Minister of Industry Wojciech Wrochna.
Poland submitted a notification application regarding the support mechanism for this investment in September 2024. The developed support mechanism assumes recapitalisation of the investor – the Polish Nuclear Power Plants company – by the State Treasury. The adopted financing structure for the nuclear power plant assumes a 70% share of debt financing and a 30% share of own financing, up to the amount of PLN 60 billion (EUR 14 billion); granting State Treasury guarantees covering 100% of debt financing. The main source of debt financing for the nuclear power plant will be export credit agencies, including primarily the American Export-Import Bank of the United States, and to a supplementary extent also other Polish and foreign financial institutions.
Share on:
