Russia Expects ‘Active’ Participation Of Hungarian Industry In Paks 2 Project, Says Rosatom CEO

15 Jun (NucNet): Russia expects Hungarian industry to participate “actively” in the design, construction, and equipment supply processes for the planned two-unit Paks 2 nuclear power station, said Aleksey Likhachev, chief executive officer of Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom. Mr Likhachev was quoted in a statement by Rosatom as saying that Hungarian companies have “significant experience and competencies”. According to the statement, the intergovernmental agreement between Russia and Hungary on the construction of Paks 2 reserves for Hungarian companies a local participation share in the project of up to 40%. Rosatom said Mr Likhachev met with Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán in the Hungarian capital Budapest on 14 June 2017 to discuss bilateral cooperation and “next steps” to be taken for the Paks 2 project. An agreement signed in 2014 will see Russia supply two VVER-1200 reactors for Paks 2, as well as a loan of up to €10bn ($11.1bn) to finance 80% of the of the €12bn project. Construction is expected to begin in the autumn of 2017, according to previous statements by Rosatom.