Szijjártó secures IAEA support for Paks nuke plant expansion

Budapest will receive all the necessary support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the successful implementation of the Paks II project, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary Peter Szijjártó wrote on social networks, Report informs.

He noted that this issue was discussed with director general of IAEA Rafael Grossi.

“IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi is one of our main friends, we can always count on his support not only on the issue (of the Paks nuclear power plant), but also on all other issues... Today we studied the status of the Paks expansion... We will receive all the assistance in the investment process so that we can implement them at the highest level, in compliance with the strictest safety conditions,” he noted.

Currently, Hungary’s only nuclear power plant, Paks, produces almost half of the country’s electricity needs in its four power units. At the end of 2014, Russia and Hungary signed documents on the construction of new power units No. 5 and No. 6 at the Paks plant. Thanks to the commissioning of two new nuclear power plant units, this share is expected to double.

Russia is giving Hungary a state loan of up to 9 billion euros for the Paks 2 project, and the total cost of work will be 12.5 billion euros. A license has already been issued for the construction of the power units themselves. The start of construction of this nuclear power plant is expected in the spring-summer of 2024.