The development is important in light of the war in Ukraine and geopolitical shifts which are creating serious global energy supply challenges, the minister said.Continue reading
The Hungarian National Atomic Energy Authority has granted an important milestone for the construction permit for the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant, which means that the actual construction phase can begin and the new units can be operational by 2030, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó announced on Friday.
The minister said on Facebook that the construction of the two new reactors have reached an extremely important turning point, as hundreds of thousands of licenses had to be obtained for the project, but the one just received is the most important. This will ensure that the process can move from the preparatory phase to the implementation phase, which will soon begin. Visible signs of this at the Paks site will start to emerge in the coming weeks, he said.
He pointed out that the 400,000-page license application had been examined by Hungarian and international experts for two years before a “green light” was given.
The construction license proves that the construction of the new Paks nuclear power plant units is of the highest quality and meets the most stringent Hungarian and international standards and requirements,
he said, adding that this is complemented by fire safety, disaster management, environmental and mining regulatory approvals.
According to Szijjártó, it is still a realistic expectation that the two new units will be operational by 2030. “This will ensure the long-term security of Hungary’s energy supply, protect the Hungarian people from extreme price fluctuations on the international energy market, and maintain our efforts to reduce the cost of electricity,” he said.
Featured Image: Facebook Paks II. Atomerőmű Zrt.