The Hungarian government plans to extend the service of the Paks NPP. Four of its reactors, build by Soviet specialists some 40 years ago, are to go out of operation between 2032 and 2037, but their life span may be extended by 20 years, to 2052-2057. At the same time, the plant’s units Five and Six are now being built in accordance with Rosatom’s designs.

The Paks II project was launched in 2014 by an inter-governmental agreement between Hungary and Russia for two VVER-1200 reactors (units 5&6) to be supplied by Rosatom.

The Paks II project was launched in 2014 by an inter-governmental agreement between Hungary and Russia for two VVER-1200 reactors (units 5&6) to be supplied by Rosatom.

Hungary has said it intends to press ahead with its plans for a new Russian-built nuclear power plant at Paks II, despite the Russian war with Ukraine and the European Union (EU) imposition of a range of sanctions against Russia.

"Венгрия остаётся, по сути, единственной из стран Евросоюза, твёрдо отстаивающей свои национальные интересы, включая суверенную позицию в диалоге с Москвой", – отметил Александр Новак.

"National consultations have clearly shown that the Hungarians do not want sanctions, because they will not help Ukraine, they will not bring Russia to its knees and will only cause terrible damage to Europe and Hungary," Orban stressed. He believes the results of the national consultations will be a significant help in his discussions with the leadership of the EU and other countries.

"The operation of TurkStream is now fully secured in the long term following the Dutch decision," foreign minister Peter Szijjarto was quoted as saying by Hungarian government spokesman Zoltan Kovacs.

The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) issued the licence for construction of units 5&6 of Paks II in August. Currently, the Paks NPP, built according to the Soviet design, operates four power units with VVER-440 reactors.

"Today, the Paks II NPP project is taking another leap forward," said Hungary's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. "The construction licence confirms that the project complies with the international and Hungarian safety requirements. It is entirely feasible that Hungary will have two new power units by 2030, thus ensuring the stability of energy supply."

Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto had traveled to Moscow in late July in an attempt to secure 0.7 Bcm of gas from Russia in addition to the 4.5 Bcm/year of gas it contracted to buy in September 2021.