Russia to build two new reactors for Hungary’s nuclear plant

The National Office for Nuclear Energy (OAH) of Hungary has given its approval to the expansion of the Paks nuclear plant, south of Budapest, which will be carried out with a Russian loan and with the participation of the Russian state company Rosatom.

This permit, issued Thursday night, means that after the necessary preparations construction of two new reactors may beginwhich will join the four existing ones, a project that will cost around 12,500 million euros.

Hungarian press reports that work could start on Paks in the coming weeks.

Despite the European sanctions against Russia for the invasion of Ukraine, the Hungarian Government considers that, given the current energy crisis, expansion plays an important role in the country’s future supply.

The government of ultranationalist Viktor Orbán is considered Moscow’s best ally within the European Union (EU).

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Last July, in response to the energy crisis, the European Parliament supported the proposal that gas and nuclear energy be considered sustainable energy sources.

“It has become clear that in the future only those countries that are capable of producing the energy they consume will be able to feel secure. That is why the Paks project is crucial,” Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said recently.

The new Paks blockswith a power of 1,200 MW each, may be operational between now and 2030 and the plan is for them to work together with the four existing ones, of 500 MW each.

In March 2017, the European Commission approved the Budapest plan to finance the project, after ruling out possible violations of community law.

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Some countries, such as neighboring Austria, oppose the project and Vienna has filed an annulment appeal before the EU Court of Justice.

In 2014, Rosatom signed an agreement with Hungary to add two reactors to the Paks plant, the only one in the country. PlantSoviet-built, It began operating in 1982 and today produces more than 50% of the electricity consumed by the country. Central European.