Supreme Audit Office critiques Polish nuclear power preparations

The Supreme Audit Office (NIK) has released findings from an audit regarding the preparations for Poland’s first nuclear power plant, covering the period from early 2020 to September 2024. The audit highlights organizational and procedural issues within the administration and the Polish Nuclear Power Company (PEJ).

Key criticisms include rushed negotiations for the Engineering Services Contract (ESC) with American partners Westinghouse and Bechtel. Auditors noted that the pace of these negotiations appeared politically motivated to ensure the contract was signed before the October 2023 parliamentary elections. This haste reportedly limited the ability to conduct a thorough process and resulted in insufficient involvement from the General Prosecutor’s Office, which is responsible for protecting state interests.

Additionally, the audit pointed to organizational weaknesses, noting that PEJ lacked the necessary personnel and structural readiness to manage the project. While the findings identify several irregularities, the Supreme Audit Office stated that the confirmed issues did not have a financial dimension and there are currently no plans to refer the matters to the prosecutor's office.