Warsaw, March 23 – An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) mission has found Poland committed to the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, in line with its plans to develop nuclear power.

The ten-day ARTEMIS review, held in Warsaw from March 8–17 at the request of the Polish government, assessed Poland’s national programme against IAEA safety standards and international practices. The mission was hosted by the Ministry of Environment and included experts from Canada, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden.

Poland operates nuclear facilities including the MARIA research reactor and the decommissioned EWA reactor, with spent fuel stored at Świerk. Since the 1960s, the country has run a national radioactive waste repository at Różan. In 2014, the government approved plans for a nuclear power program, with the first plant – three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors – expected to begin operation in 2036.

The review team said Poland has many elements of a safe management strategy in place but urged clearer objectives, adequate resources and measurable milestones. Recommendations included setting a timeframe for introducing very low-level waste as a new category, and further developing plans for a near-surface disposal facility to handle waste from future nuclear plants.

“Poland continues to set the pace in Europe for safe radioactive waste management,” said Karine Herviou, IAEA Deputy Director General. “Hosting and repeating an ARTEMIS peer review shows its commitment to safety and trust in independent assessment.”

Vice Minister Konrad Wojnarowski said Poland attaches great importance to maintaining the highest standards of safety and transparency. The final report will be delivered to Polish authorities within three months.