Reaching Critical Will

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)

Conference on Disarmament

General Assembly First Committee

UN Disarmament Commission

Special Session on Disarmament

Model Nuclear Inventory 2007
Poland

Location and capability of nuclear facilities
Fissile material holdings
Nuclear activities
International non-proliferation efforts
Positions taken in international fora on various issues of disarmament

1. Location and Capability of Nuclear Facilities

Poland relies mainly on coal fuel in meeting its energy needs. The Polish energy policy is centered around energy safety, increasing competitiveness of domestic enterprises, and the protection of the environment from negative impacts of energy production processes. High reliance on coal is projected to continue in the near future, although efforts are made on increasing the use of renewable energy sources in accordance with the EU policy on protection of the natural environment.

In order to meet energy demands and strict requirements on greenhouse gas emissions, Poland announced in December 2004 that it will construct its first nuclear power plant by the year 2023. According to Poland's Deputy Economy Minister, Jacek Piechota, Poland is constructing the nuclear plant due to strict environmental regulations. Piechota says, "The priority for the next 15 years will be to develop renewable energy resources; wind power, biomass and hydro-electric power. But these resources will not suffice." A 2006 feasibility study suggested that 11.5 GWe of nuclear capacity would be optimum for Poland but possibly unfordable in the medium term, so the figure of 4.5 GWe by 2030 is now targeted.
http://www.poland.gov.pl/?document=477
http://www.wagingpeace.org/menu/resources/sunflower/2005/01_sunflower.htm#7e
http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf102.html

Power Reactors: 0

Research Reactors
Operational: 1 (Maria)
Shut Down: 2 (Agata; Ewa)
Decommissioned: 2 (Anna, Maryla)
Under Construction: 0
Planned: 0
http://www.iaea.or.at/worldatom/rrdb/

Uranium Mines
For some twenty years, starting in 1947, a systematic program of uranium exploration and development was undertaken in the Lower Silesia region, under the direction of Soviet Union experts. Mines were developed at Kowary Podgórze, Radoniow and Kletno and all uranium extracted was consumed in the Soviet Union.
http://www.worldenergy.org/wec-geis/edc/countries/Poland.asp

After World War II uranium was mined in different parts of the Sudetic Mountains in Poland near the Czechoslovakian border, e.g. at Stronie Slaskie, Grzmiaca and Kowary. Currently, Poland has no uranium production capability, no uranium industry, nor any plans to undertake uranium production related activities. Uranium mining ended in the 1960s, as exploiting the ore deposits
was no longer economically feasible.
http://www.antenna.nl/wise/index.html?http://www.antenna.nl/wise/373/3665.html

Mines shut down
Kowáry, Radoniów, Kopaniec, Kletno, Rudki, Radomice, Szklarska Poreba, Wojcieszyce, Okrzeszyn, Mniszków, Miedzianka, Radzimowice, Rochowice, Grzmiaca, and Redziny. http://www.antenna.nl/wise/uranium/uddeur.html#PL

2. Fissile Material Holdings

Highly Enriched Uranium: 0.49 tons (end of 2003)
Supplier- Russia
http://www.isis-online.org/global_stocks/end2003/civil_heu_watch2005.pdf

Radioactive waste disposal
Low-and intermediate-level waste: Low-and intermediate-level waste is collected, processed, solidified and prepared for disposal by Radioactive Waste Management Plant in Swierk. Afterwards the waste is disposed of in the National Radioactive Waste Repository in Róan; a near surface type central repository site .
http://www.paa.gov.pl/Nuclear-actvity-2003.htm
http://www.paa.gov.pl/National_report/report.pdf

The uranium mines were closed down in the 1960s but the radiating waste piles are still uncovered and the radioactively contaminated seepage waters reach the residential areas in the valleys. http://www.antenna.nl/wise/index.html?http://www.antenna.nl/wise/373/3665.html

High-level waste: If Poland is to have nuclear power in the future, there are potential sites within the Polish territory for a deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste.
http://www.paa.gov.pl/National_report/report.pdf

3. Nuclear Activities and Cooperation

Nuclear Research Centers
Central Laboratory for Radiological Protection
Institute of Nuclear Chemistry & Technology
Institute of Nuclear Physics
Instytut Energii Atomowej - Swierk
Instytut Gospodarki Odpadami
http://www.radwaste.org/research.htm

Nuclear Cooperation
Czech Republic: Poland serves as a transit country for the transport of uranium to Czech Republic. In 2001, the Polish Atom Agency approved the transport of uranium en route from the US to Temelin nuclear plant in Czech Republic; the cargo transport was top-secret and no information was given to the public regarding its associated risks.
http://www.ce-review.org/01/15/polandnews15.html

Lithuania: 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 as a result of EU insistence. Polish participation would encourage a larger and more economical unit such as a Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), which are used to probe the "static" structure of solid and liquid systems. 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 and could be on line in 2015. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf102.html

4. International Nonproliferation Efforts

Treaties Signed and Ratified, date of deposit
Antarctic Treaty, 8 June 1961
APM Convention, signed 4 December 1996 (not yet ratified)
Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention, 25 January 1973
Certain Conventional Weapons Convention, 2 June 1983
Chemical Weapons Convention, 23 August 1995
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, 25 May 1999
Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, 8 February 1987
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, 12 June 1969
Outer Space Treaty, 30 January 1969
Seabed Treaty, 15 November 1971
Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, April 1990.

Poland ratified the IAEA Additional Protocol on 5 May 2000.

Multilateral Groups
Australia Group
Conference on Disarmament
Hague Code of Conduct
Missile Technology Control Regime
Nuclear Suppliers Group
Proliferation Security Initiative, PSI
Wassenaar Arrangement
Zangger Committee

5. Positions Taken in International Fora on Various Issues of Nuclear Disarmament

FMCT: “Our objective is clear: we need a norm that will substantively contribute to the nuclear disarmament and which will halt the production of fissile material for military explosive purposes. Let me state clearly- this would be a significant step towards the elimination of material, the use of which could lead to the repeat of the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The treaty may provide the best assurance that- in long run- nuclear weapons will never be used.” - Statement by Ambassador Zdislaw Rapacki at the Conference of Disarmament 16 May, 2006. http://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/political/cd/speeches06/statements%2016%20may/16MayPoland.pdf