Péter Szijjártó: the investment enters a new phase

7/1/22 1:17 PM
The Paks investment may enter the second, implementation phase in September, at which time Gergely Jákli will take over the management of Paks II. Ltd.
Photo: Facebook/Péter Szijjártó

 

All pending issues that are necessary for the Paks expansion to enter the second, implementation phase this September have been clarified with the management of the Russian nuclear power company Rosatom – MTI quoted Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Péter Szijjártó negotiated with Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev in Istanbul, and then later announced that the meeting had reviewed the work on the project, so that everything is in place for the project to enter the so-called implementation phase this autumn.

 

He said that the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) has to issue four other important licences before the construction can begin, the most important of which is the implementation licence, but applications have also been submitted for the reactor vessel, the nuclear island and the reactor building for Unit 5.

He highlighted: the Russian Party is going to provide every necessary documentation which is required for the HAEA to be able to give an informed opinion as soon as possible.

- If everything comes together as agreed today, it is entirely realistic that the Paks NPP investment will enter the second, implementation phase this September – he said.

As Péter Szijjártó pointed out, all of these is necessary to operate the two new units by 2030, thus the current power – 2000 MW – of the Paks NPP will be increased to 4400 MW. 

Hungary is taking a huge step towards self-sufficiency in electricity, and this will be a huge advantage for Hungary in the current situation, where prices are rising irrationally on the international energy market. We will not be exposed to the disturbances and crises on the international energy market to the extent that we are at the present, and we will not be exposed to them to the extent that many other countries are. 

 

Finally, the minister underlined that when the EU sanctions were adopted, it was stated, and even recorded in law, that the peaceful, civilian use of nuclear energy is not subject to restrictions, and that Rosatom itself was not included in any sanctions list, so the cooperation does not violate any rules.

– It is our aim to have the nuclear power plant constructed by 2030, which is a realistic goal, as the Hungarian government is for the continuation of the investment – he summarized.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs announced that Gergely Jákli, former CEO of Eximbank will be the next CEO of Paks II. Ltd. from 1 September onwards. 

János Süli, State Secretary responsible for the expansion of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Gergely Jákli, Chief Executive Officer of Paks II. Ltd. starting from 1 September 2022. Photo: Facebook/Péter Szijjártó