The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) has approved the preliminary safety report for the initial concrete pour of the Paks nuclear power plant expansion project, marking a significant milestone in the development of the facility, announced Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto.
Szijjarto explained that the approval was an essential step in the construction of a nuclear facility, as it required the completion of the diaphragm wall and the collection of data from the soil stabilization process. The report itself is extensive, comprising half a million pages. Following the standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), this approval classifies the facility as a nuclear installation under construction once the first concrete is poured, which is expected to begin in early 2024.
The expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant is currently the largest licensed nuclear project in the European Union.
In 2014, the Hungarian government signed an agreement with Russia’s Rosatom to increase the output of the existing Paks plant. The deal aims to add two new reactors, raising the plant’s capacity from 2,000 MW to 4,400 MW. Russia has committed to providing a loan of 10 billion euros, covering around 80% of the estimated construction costs. Originally, the first new unit was expected to be operational by 2023, but the revised schedule now targets commissioning the first reactor in 2030-31.
Currently, the Paks nuclear power plant provides approximately 50% of Hungary’s electricity, and the expansion is seen as crucial for meeting the country’s future energy needs.
