Production of the second reactor vessel for the Paks expansion has started

As part of the expansion of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant expansion project, the production of the reactor vessel for the sixth unit has begun in Russia, and at the same time, the first components of the turbine for the fifth unit have also begun to be manufactured in France , announced Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade on Tuesday in London.

Forging the soul of the nuclear power plant

The Minister stressed that the Paks expansion has reached another important milestone. On the one hand, he underlined that in St. Petersburg, Europe's largest automated forging plant, the production of the reactor vessel of the future sixth unit has started, which is one of the most important long-term production tools in the construction of a nuclear power plant.

"This will be the heart of the nuclear power plant, because the controlled chain reaction itself will take place in this reactor vessel, which is why it is manufactured according to the strictest possible European and Hungarian standards."

- said.

"There will be seven hundred quality checks during the production period. This reactor vessel will weigh 315 tonnes, 11 metres high, 4.5 metres in diameter, a huge device that will have to withstand temperatures of 300 degrees Celsius and pressures of 162 bar for at least six decades," he pointed out.

France now also manufactures Paks II components

On the other hand, the press material also revealed that, at the same time, the first components of the turbine for the Unit 5 reactor block were being manufactured in Belfort, France.

"So we are now even further ahead in this important investment with the production of key equipment for both units 5 and 6. And the fact that we have manufacturing sites in Russia and France makes it clear that this is a major international investment, the success of which is critical to securing Hungary's long-term energy supply", the Minister said.