Biznes Fakty
The Maria nuclear reactor has stopped working due to a lack of operating permits.
The operation of the Maria nuclear reactor has been halted from April 1 to May 8, as reported by the National Center for Nuclear Research to tvn24.pl. The permit issued by the National Atomic Energy Agency, which allowed the operation of this facility, expired at the end of March.
On Tuesday, Poland’s sole nuclear reactor ceased operations. „As of March 31, 2025, the previous permit from the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA – ed.) for the operation of the Maria research reactor has expired,” the government website stated.
According to the clarification provided by the National Centre for Nuclear Research on social media, the „previously scheduled technical break” is associated with the modernization of the reactor, and „the institute’s administration is taking measures to ensure that the licensing process is successfully completed by that date (May 8 – ed.).”
Reactor Maria Piotr Nowak/PAPAtomic Energy Agency approves Maria reactor
The National Atomic Energy Agency stated in a release that a new permit for the operation of the Maria research reactor will be granted once the NCBJ demonstrates that the facility „has fulfilled the requirements for nuclear safety, radiological protection, and physical security.”
„For the nuclear regulator, specifically the President of the PAA, the critical factor in deciding whether to issue a permit for activities involving exposure to ionizing radiation is the confirmation of compliance with the aforementioned requirements regarding nuclear safety and radiological protection as outlined in Polish law,” it was noted.
The agency clarified that the application for a permit to operate the reactor was filed on August 20, 2024. However, the applicant was asked multiple times to provide clarifications and to supplement the documentation.
Minister of Industry comments
The head of the Ministry of Industry, Marzena Czarnecka, addressed the only research reactor currently operational in Poland, Maria in Świerk, during her speech on Friday. – This reactor has not yet received the necessary approvals and permits from the Polish Atomic Energy Agency, but it is anticipated that it will obtain them by mid-May. It will satisfy the safety requirements – she indicated.
The Minister further noted that drawing from the experience with the Maria reactor, scientists at the National Center for Nuclear Research are developing the design and construction of a high-temperature research reactor HTGR. HTGR is classified as an SMR type reactor (small modular reactor – ed.), which aims to achieve a significantly higher coolant temperature at the outlet compared to modular water-cooled reactors.
Maria Nuclear Reactor
The only active nuclear reactor in Poland, named Maria (in honor of Maria Skłodowska-Curie), was inaugurated in Świerk (now a district of Otwock) in December 1974 and commenced regular operations in 1995.
The information provided on the government website states that this reactor, with a nominal thermal power of 30 MW, is a research reactor – the most significant research apparatus at the National Center for Nuclear Research. The designation „research reactor” indicates that it is not utilized to generate energy for external users (even those located on the premises of the center).
„The output from the MARIA reactor fulfills a substantial portion of the global need for iodine-131 used in thyroid treatment. The reactor has also implemented technology for irradiating uranium targets to produce molybdenum, which is used to obtain technetium-99m – currently the most crucial nuclide for nuclear medicine,” reported the NCBJ.
