EIB backs Poland: PLN 85m loan to NCBJ and hydropower advisory for Wody Polskie

Loan for research infrastructure

The EIB provided a PLN 85 million (about €20 million) loan to the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) to develop modern scientific facilities at the MARIA reactor site. Funding will support construction of the MNL Maria Neutron Laboratory, the NOMATEN CoRE programme for materials for extreme operating conditions, and enhancement of the Polish Free Electron Laser (PolFEL 1.1). These facilities will enable R&D in advanced materials, nuclear energy, medicine and measurement techniques for applications such as renewables and batteries. The three projects have a combined cost above PLN 460 million and are co-financed by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Hydropower advisory for regional transition

Separately, EIB Advisory signed an agreement with state water manager Wody Polskie to prepare major hydropower investments in the Silesia and Lesser Poland regions. Under the TARGET (Technical Assistance for a Green Energy Transition) programme, the two-year cooperation will deliver technical, financial and environmental analysis for three potential hydropower sites to be built on existing water steps, aiming to increase the share of renewables and support regions undergoing a just transition.

Programmes and objectives

The loan was granted under the EIB TechEU initiative for financing innovation and competitiveness; TARGET is a joint European Commission–EIB facility assisting coal, peat and oil-shale regions with identification and preparation of clean-energy and efficiency projects. The agreements are presented as measures to strengthen Poland’s energy security, research capacity and economic resilience.