Polish Minister of the Economy, Waldemar Pawlak, has described nuclear energy as one among other options of the development of Polish power industry. Addressing journalists at an informal meeting in Warsaw of the Ministers of Economy with power-consuming corporations on reducing carbon dioxide emission, Pawlak cautioned not to ‘become obsessed with nuclear energy and treat it as only one of many options’.
The Deputy Minister underlined that strict environmental and ecological requirements must be met concerning i.e. the possibility to cool reactors before a nuclear power plant can be built. ‘It is not just the matter of outlining plans on the map’ he added.
‘It would take 15 years to build nuclear power plants in Poland, if that turns out to be at all necessary’ Pawlak said. ‘If the natural and renewable sources prove to be sufficient there is no reason to introduce such expensive technologies as nuclear energy’ he added.
‘No one builds a nuclear power plant simply because they want to. This money-consuming project needs solid engineering grounds and guaranteed safety’ he emphasized. ‘About 5 thousand engineers and technicians are needed to ensure proper functioning of such a plant’.
Pawlak has also informed that the Ministry is still working on the energy policy until 2030 which is aimed at providing a stable source for Poland’s development in a long-term perspective