Work on the diaphragm wall for the expansion of Hungary’s nuclear power plant inPaks is under way, with groundwork under the sixth block set to begin in August,Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Wednesday.
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The fi nalisation of the necessary permits for the full groundwork is on schedule, Szijjartosaid after talks with Russian Health Minister Mikhail Murashko in Budapest.
Energy cooperation between Hungary and Russia is a guarantee of Hungary’s energysecurity, Szijjarto told a joint press conference with Murashko.
“And this is not an ideological or political matter, but a purely physical one,” he added.
“The new nuclear plant in Paks is the long-term guarantee for the security of Hungary’senergy supply, therefore Hungary will never support any sanctions on the nuclearindustry,” Szijjarto said.
He welcomed that a recent approval from the European Union has opened the door tospeeding up the Paks project. This has allowed construction to begin on the diaphragmwall, while groundwork for block six is set to get under way next month, he added.
Also, the ground consolidation plans are currently being fi nalised, he said, adding thatthe fi nalisation of the permits and plans for the full groundwork was on schedule.
Szijjarto said the Russian government was set to approve the modifi cations to theproject’s fi nancing contract in the coming days, which was set to be followed by thesigning of the modifi ed construction contract.
He added that Hungary will consider “any foreign legal or political manoeuvre” aimed atslowing down or blocking the project “an attack on our sovereignty”.
In response to a question, Szijjarto said that since the construction works were under way, Hungary should not abandon its target of completing the plant’s upgrade by 2030-2031.
“So I myself remain committed to putting the new blocks online by 2030-31,” Szijjarto said.
“And this is something I tell Rosatom’s executives at every single meeting, who so farhave not objected to it.”
In a statement, Rosatom said on Wednesday that the diaphragm construction was partof the implementation phase which started on July 3. The works are proceeding in linewith the permits of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, it said. As included in thepermits, the new blocks will meet all Hungarian and European safety standards, Rosatomadded. The guaranteed lifespan of the two new blocks will be 60 years, it said.
