Moscow [Russia], November 15: Hungary and the Russian nuclear energy company Rosatom have agreed on a timetable for the long-planned expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant.
"It can now be stated with certainty that the two new units will be connected to the grid at the beginning of the 2030s," said Hungary's Foreign Minister PeterSzijjarto on Tuesday.
He had just signed the corresponding agreement with Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev at the Paks site, 100 kilometres south of Budapest.
The two new units are to replace two of the four reactors currently in operation at the plant. Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban agreed to the construction with Russian President Vladimir Putin back in 2014.
Rosatom is to supply the reactors and the fuel rods. Moscow also provided a loan of ?10 billion ($10.7 billion), which covers more than 80% of the costs. Orban did not change the plans even after the start of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022, despite international pressure to do so.
Implementation has fallen short of expectations. The Hungarian state nuclear authority only granted the necessary construction permits last year.
"The expansion of Paks is no longer about paperwork, but about real construction work," said Szijjarto on Tuesday. According to Russian media, Likhachev said that Russia was sending its "best forces" to work at the site. "There will be increased attention for the project," he said.
Hungary's energy cooperation with Russia has been widely criticized in the European Union. The EU member state continues to purchase natural gas and pipeline oil from Russia. Ukraine, Hungary's neighbour, has repeatedly called for sanctions against the Russian nuclear industry.
The Paks nuclear power plant was built between 1969 and 1987. It has four pressurized water reactors of the Soviet type VVER-440/213 and a daily output of 2,000 megawatts. This covers just over 50% of Hungary's electricity requirements.
Source: Qatar Tribune
