Hungary and Russia agree to accelerate pace of Paks upgrade
Minister Szijjártó said Hungary will not support any proposals by Brussels that make Hungarian-Russian nuclear cooperation harder or render it impossible.
Minister Szijjártó said Hungary will not support any proposals by Brussels that make Hungarian-Russian nuclear cooperation harder or render it impossible.
Energy Minister Csaba Lantos emphasized the need to strengthen Hungary’s energy sovereignty.
The foreign minister welcomed the decision, saying the dismissal was a “great victory for Hungary… declaring the Paks upgrade to be fully in line with EU regulations.”
The foreign minister said that the government’s scheme to keep household utility bills low put Hungary in a “unique position” in Europe.
There will be a bill introduced on extending the lifespan of the existing blocks of the Paks nuclear power plant.
The foreign minister said the war in Ukraine and the European Union’s “failed” sanctions policy has led to a global energy crisis, which will be prolonged.
Péter Szijjártó said the countries able to generate the energy they consume will be positioned best to weather the energy crisis caused by the Russia-Ukraine war and “botched sanctions”.
The reactor building will guarantee that no harmful substances will be released into the environment during the energy production process.
The Paks-2 nuclear power plant expansion project received positive news on Thursday after the National Atomic Energy Agency (HAEA) approved the application for a manufacturing authorization for the melt trap.
The Hungarian atomic energy authority is in the process of reviewing permit applications, and once those permits are issued, “construction may enter its next phase,” Minister Szijjártó said.
The foreign minister said that calls of Hungary’s leftist politicians to scrap the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant and to stop gas deliveries were “irresponsible”.
The project of building two new blocks to the Paks nuclear power plant is being implemented as planned so that they be able to start operations in 2029-2030.
The foreign minister said nuclear energy, “is a clean, cheap and safe way to cover energy demands.”