Poland's government approved two bills creating a legal framework for the nuclear power industry and taking another step towards building the country's first nuclear plant, the government said in a statement on Tuesday.

The bills, which now will be sent to parliament, create grounds for oversight of the investment process by National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) as well as instruments for state-controlled PGE to choose technology supplier.

Poland, the biggest ex-communist European Union member, wants to build capacity of 6 gigawatts of nuclear power, or a forecast 16 percent of annual production in 2030, to reduce its reliance on coal, which now generates more than 90 percent of power needs.

According to the government's schedule, the bills should be approved by the parliament by end-June.

PGE estimates the cost of the country's planned nuclear power plant at 3-3.5 billion euros ($4.1-$4.7 billion) for each gigawatt of power, putting the total at some 18-21 billion euros.

The Polish government still wants to build the first bloc by 2020, although earlier it has signalled it may take until 2022.

af.reuters.com