What is billionaire Michal Solowow's prediction for when Poland's first small modular nuclear reactor will become operational, and how does this compare to the government's large nuclear plant timeline?

Michal Solowow predicted that Poland's first small modular reactor (SMR) will come online in late 2030, as part of a joint venture between his company Synthos and state-controlled Orlen SA. This timeline is significantly earlier than the government’s planned first large nuclear power plant, which is scheduled to start operations in 2036.

Why does Solowow believe Poland needs small modular reactors instead of a second large nuclear plant, and what financial commitment has the government already made to nuclear energy?

Solowow stated that there is 'no room in the budget to support construction of another [large] plant' and emphasized that authorities 'really want to have small modular reactors because we can’t afford to build the second nuclear plant.' He noted that Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s cabinet has already committed 60 billion zloty ($16.7 billion) to the large nuclear power facility, leaving no fiscal space for a second conventional plant.

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Michal Solowow predicts his joint venture with Orlen SA will commission the first small modular reactor in Poland by late 2030, aiming to reduce energy costs for businesses and replace aging coal plants.

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