“Maria” research reactor to The only nuclear reactor operating in Polandlocated in Świerk -Odwock, belonging to the National Nuclear Research Center (NCBJ). It was launched in December 1974, but It is currently turned off. On March 31, 2025 after 10 years The current permission of the President of the State Atomic Establishing Agency for operation has expired.
On Friday, industry minister Marzena Czarnecka referred to the situation. She indicated that the State Atomicist Agency (PAA) predicts that The “Maria” research reactor will be allowed to work in July.
See also: The only nuclear reactor operating in Poland is in trouble
Marzena Czarnecka about the “Maria” reactor: We don't close
“Maria is doing well, despite large press speculations, that we are closing the only nuclear reactor in Poland (…). We do not close. There was a process of determining security elements, these consent was obtained” – said Marzena Czarnecka.
“The reactor had to get a special consent of both the voivode, and the interior minister, and administration – these decisions are in the final phase of the issuing process. PAA predicts that he will allow the Maria reactor to work in July,” she specified.
See also: Fire at the National Center for Nuclear Research in Otwock
PAA two weeks ago signaled, among others The importance of documentation regarding emergency planning zones confirming that she had already received the documentation in this respect supplemented in accordance with the recommendations.
Why is the “Maria” reactor not working?
PAA's main reservations at the “Maria” nuclear reactor were: security analysis, limits and operating conditions of the nuclear object and reactor aging management program.
NCBJ submitted an application for permission to exploit the reactor in August 2024. The application was not complete. The President of PAA 11 times called the NCBJ to remove formal deficiencies, formulating several hundred comments.
At the beginning of April, industry minister Marzena Czarnecka dismissed the director of the National Nuclear Research Center prof. Krzysztof Kurek. The decision was justified by the need to improve the functioning of the NCBJ, and especially the priority treatment of the operation of the “Maria” reactor.
