Hungary has “no alternative” but to build a nuclear plant, János Süli, the minister without portfolio in charge of the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant told an international energy conference in Budapest on Tuesday.
The minister said that given the security of Hungary’s energy supply as well as economic and climate protection considerations, there is no other option.
Süli told the Budapest Energy Summit that climate policy goals cannot be fulfilled without nuclear energy and nuclear plants are capable of providing non-stop power for both the industrial sector and consumers.
The minister also revealed that the Hungarian government supports increasing the share of renewable energy in the country’s energy mix and wants to include such resources in Hungary’s electricity production.
Süli said Hungary’s electricity demand could grow by 3,500-5,000 megawatts by 2030, which was why he said the construction of the Paks plant’s two new reactors was necessary.
The minister said Hungary’s economic progress brought with it a growing electricity demand, but most of the country’s power plants are old. Without the Paks upgrade project, Hungary would face serious power supply problems within 5-10 years, he stressed.