Paks II: Paks Nuclear Power Plant expands with the largest project in decades

Hungary's only operating nuclear power plant currently has four 500 MW active units, built between 1969 and 1987. The plant accounts for about half of Hungary's electricity production and a third of the electricity consumed. The Paks II project will add two additional 1200 MW units to the existing ones.  

The main justification for the development is that it will significantly increase the amount of electricity produced domestically, reducing dependency. At the same time, climate protection is also a key aspect of the project: in the future, the electricity generated by the two power plants could be produced with the same 17 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions as coal-fired power plants. A further argument is that the current units of the nuclear power plant are scheduled to be shut down between 2032 and 2037 after the planned extension. 

The investment will be carried out by Paks II. Atomerőmű Zrt., which will also be responsible for the operation of the new units. The main contractor for the project is the Russian Roszatom State Enterprise. 

Major work ahead for the Hungarian construction industry

The €12.5 billion fixed-price contract is by far the biggest construction project in decades, with around 10,000 people working on it at peak times.

According to the target of Act II of 2014, 40 percent of the project will be carried out by domestic companies, but in certain works, such as the construction of the construction and installation base, the proportion of Hungarian suppliers may significantly exceed 40 percent.