IAEA Positively Concluded An ARTEMIS Mission to Poland
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission has found that Poland is making progress in the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, a key component of the country’s plans to develop nuclear energy.
The ARTEMIS (Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation) mission was conducted from 8 to 17 March 2026 in Warsaw at the request of the Polish Government. It reviewed the country’s national programme against IAEA safety standards, technical guidance and international good practices.
The review team, composed of five international experts from Canada, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden, as well as IAEA staff members, found that many elements required for safe management are already in place, highlighting Poland’s commitment to a comprehensive national strategy.
In its findings, the ARTEMIS team also made several recommendations to further strengthen implementation, including:
- improving planning, resourcing and cost estimation through clearer assumptions in the next update of the National Plan;
- defining a timeline for decisions on the introduction of very low-level waste as a separate category;
- further developing the roadmap for a new near-surface disposal facility, including human resources and competencies;
- ensuring alignment of the siting process with the timeline set out in the National Plan through stakeholder engagement.
“Poland continues to set the pace in Europe for safe radioactive waste management, leading the way as the first EU Member State to host and now repeat an ARTEMIS peer review – clear proof of unwavering commitment to safety and trust in independent, international assessment.”
said Karine Herviou, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Safety and Security.
Read the IAEA Press Release.
Poland has been developing its nuclear energy framework to enhance energy security and reduce dependence on coal, underpinned by very strong public support for nuclear power in the country.
In its national programme, approved in 2014 and updated in recent years, Poland has ambitious plans to build from 6 to 9 GW of installed nuclear capacity based on Generation III and III+ large-scale, pressurised water reactor (PWR) designs. The first units, based on Westinghouse (ENS Corporate Member) AP1000 technology, are expected to enter operation from 2036.
While Poland does not currently operate nuclear power plants, it already uses nuclear and radiation technologies in research, medicine and industry. Its infrastructure includes the MARIA research reactor, as well as spent fuel storage facilities in Świerk.
The country also has longstanding experience in radioactive waste management through the national repository in Różan, operated since the early 1960s by the Radioactive Waste Management Plant (ZUOP). Building on this experience, Poland is planning new waste management infrastructure, including a near-surface disposal facility for future nuclear power plants as well as existing and historical waste.
