Abstract
This article discusses one of the solutions adopted in the nuclear energy law, which contributes to the reduction of the investment risk. It is the so-called pre-licensing which involves the assessment of key site or technical factors at the pre-investment stage in order to avoid possible problems at the stage of investment implementation. The author analyses the Polish solutions in the context of the general concept of pre-licensing, with particular respect to: the nature of pre-licensing legal instruments (opinions), the scope and requirements of the application for an opinion, and the binding force of pre-licensing acts. The practical significance of this issue is all the greater considering governmental plans to implement nuclear power in Poland and in the light of recent activities of private entities as to the construction of smaller nuclear power plants. In the latter case, prelicensing instruments are already being exercised in practice.