On 20 September 2024, a business forum was held in Budapest to coincide with the meeting of the Russian-Hungarian intergovernmental commission with the participation of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó and Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Mikhail Murashko.
The event was attended by more than 50 major companies, both current and potential suppliers of the Paks II NPP project, from Hungary, Russia and other countries, as well as representatives of ministries, agencies and the business world of the two countries.
During the forum, organized by the Hungarian Export Agency (HEPA), representatives of Rosatom's Engineering Division spoke about the achievements of the Russian State Corporation as a world leader in the field of nuclear technologies and about opportunities for cooperation with foreign partners.
“The Paks II NPP project is the flagship of Russian-Hungarian cooperation and is progressing well. The construction of a new Hungarian NPP using Russian technology is an international project, with Hungarian and foreign companies participating in it. The Hungarian government provides full support to the Paks II NPP project”, emphasized Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó.
Alexander Merten, Senior Vice President for International Development of Atomstroyexport (ASE) JSC, spoke about foreign projects of Rosatom's Engineering Division, noting that the State Corporation is a world leader in the number of NPPs under construction abroad. The Engineering Division builds nuclear power plants in series and has orders for 33 high capacity and 6 low capacity units in 10 countries. “We feel the support of the Hungarian government, for us the Paks II NPP Construction Project is strategic, and is the first project including Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors on the territory of the EU, it is given special attention”, Alexander Merten said.
Vitaly Polyanin, Vice President of Atomstroyexport JSC and Director of the Paks II NPP Construction Project, emphasized that the large number of forum participants testifies to the growing interest of foreign companies in the project, which has gained high momentum after receiving the main license in 2022. “In 2024, three important events took place at the project: the soil consolidation stage under the future Unit 5 was completed, the core melt localization device was delivered for Unit 5 and production of the reactor vessel began. Intensive preparations are underway for the pouring of the first concrete, which could take place at the end of the year”, he said.
Forum participants received detailed information on forms and opportunities for cooperation with Rosatom's Engineering Division. The representatives of the State Corporation informed the audience about the conditions of participation in Rosatom's projects and, in particular, in the Paks II project, and also answered the questions.
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The Paks II NPP project is implemented based on the Russian-Hungarian intergovernmental agreement signed on 14 January 2014 and three basic contracts for the construction of the new plant. The main license for the construction of the Paks II NPP was issued by the Hungarian regulator in August 2022. The Paks II NPP with two power units with Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors will be built on a turnkey basis. Obtaining a construction license confirmed that the new power units comply with Hungarian and European safety standards. There are already four VVER-1200 units successfully operating in Russia and two similar units outside Russia, at the Belarusian NPP.