Hungary’s state-owned energy group MVM has begun construction of a new combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant in the Matra region. Designed to produce 540 MW, the facility is scheduled for completion in 2028 and will play a significant role in ensuring the country’s electricity supply.
The project follows a procurement process launched in 2023 to build a modern gas-fired unit of up to 650 MW at the Visonta site, home to the existing coal-fired Matra power plant. In 2025, the contract was awarded to a consortium comprising Elsewedy Electric, West Hungaria Bau, and Status KPRIA. Once operational, the plant is expected to generate between 2 and 2.5 TWh of electricity annually, with a projected operational lifespan of at least 25 years.
The design features advanced technology, integrating a gas turbine prepared for green hydrogen use, a steam turbine, and a heat recovery boiler in a single system. This setup will provide greater operational flexibility, enabling the stable and adjustable power production needed to complement renewable energy sources in the national grid.
The Matra project is part of MVM’s wider strategy to expand Hungary’s gas-fired generation capacity. Alongside it, the company is developing two additional units of up to 500 MW each at the Tisza power plant site, to be built by a consortium led by Italy’s Ansaldo Energia and Turkey’s Calik Holding. Combined, the three facilities will add around 1,600 MW of new gas-based capacity to Hungary’s energy system.
Through these investments, MVM aims to better balance the increasing share of weather-dependent renewables while bolstering the country’s long-term energy security and grid stability.
