Hungarian Minister without portfolio, who is in charge of the project for the expansion of the country’s sole nuclear power plant Paks, Janos Suli said that the construction of new units will start in 2022.
However, before the construction on the two new reactors can begin, Hungarian National Atomic Energy Office (OAH) has to issue the implementation permit for the project and several other permits must also be obtained. The application for a manufacturing permit for the reactor vessel was submitted to the authority last month, which it has five months to assess. Minister Suli noted that the OAH did not grant an implementation permit in early October and asked the project company to resolve some discrepancies in its application.
He said that concreting works on the project will start in early 2022, with the completion of a concrete cover expected in mid-2023, adding that the Government aims to have the two new reactors operational by 2029-2030.
In January 2014, Hungarian Government has signed deal with Russia`s Rosatom, with a goal to increase output of the power plant, from current 2,000 MW to 4,400 MW by adding two more reactors. Under the agreement, Russia will provide 10 billion euros loan for the construction of new unit in existing NPP, which is around 80 % of estimated construction cost. According to initial plan, first unit was supposed to become operational in 2023.
Currently, NPP Paks provides about a half of Hungary’s total electricity generation and the new nuclear capacity will be even more significant following the closure of coal-fired TPP Matra.
