Poland has given the green light for the construction of 24 new small modular reactor (SMR) units across six sites, executives of the company that will build the nuclear facilities said on Thursday, as Warsaw looks to reduce its use of fossil fuels.

The government has said it is aiming to speed up phasing out coal and plans to build renewable and nuclear power infrastructure to address challenges related to climate change and ensure stable power supplies.

Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE), a joint venture between Poland's biggest refiner Orlen (PKN.WA) and chemicals company Synthos, plans to deploy the country's first small reactors by 2030.

"The Polish government decided to issue a decision in principle and approved six locations together for 24 state-of-the-art GE Hitachi BWRX-300 units in Poland," OSGE Chief Executive Rafal Kasprow said at the Net Zero Nuclear Summit, which is taking place while COP28 is underway in Dubai.

"It's really a new beginning — a new era — for Poland."

Poland's climate ministry said the reactors would be built in Wloclawek, Stawy Monowskie, Stalowa Wola, Ostroleka, Nowa Huta and Dabrowa Gornicza.