Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Hungary plans to strengthen its energy system by introducing new energy assets. By 2030, a new nuclear power plant with two VVER-1200 reactors will appear in the country, the license for the construction of which was issued at the end of August this year. Thus, the country became the first among the EU countries where a permit was obtained for the construction of reactors of this type. It is expected that the new power units with a total capacity of 2.4 GW will significantly strengthen the country’s energy sector.

According to the World Nuclear Association last year, Hungary is in the top 5 countries with a large share of nuclear generation (47%). The first nuclear power plant Paks, built in the 1980s, consists of 4 VVER-440/213 power units. At present, the capacity of each power unit has been increased to 500 MW and their service life has been extended. Last year, the nuclear power plant produced 16 TWh of electricity per year, accounting for half of the generation.

Plans to increase generation, as well as obtaining a building permit, were commented by an independent expert in the field of energy Zsolt Harfash:

“The issuance of the license confirms that the two new units with VVER-1200 reactors meet the most stringent national and international nuclear safety requirements, can be built reliably and safely, and will operate for a guaranteed 60 years. This is the first license in the European Union for the construction of a nuclear installation, which relates to the construction of the world’s most modern Russian power units with VVER-1200 reactors. The type has also previously been recognized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as the world’s first 3+ generation type to meet the most stringent nuclear safety requirements. Over the years, the EU has subjected the project to a number of detailed assessments. As a result, the European Commission found that the two new power units of the Paks-2 NPP are capable of meeting the most stringent nuclear and radiation safety requirements,” the expert says.

According to the expert, criteria such as nuclear safety, strong references in the development, construction, maintenance and operation of technology, as well as the possibility of participation of national companies in the construction of a new nuclear power plant were taken into account when choosing the type of reactor.

“Hungary is already facing problems in the field of energy supply and national security: the share of imports is about 30 percent on an annualized basis, but there are increasingly times when this share is much higher. It is important to have a way to generate electricity that would allow it to be produced continuously, every second, day and night, winter and summer, thereby ensuring the reliability of supply and the availability of cheaper, greener electricity. That is why Hungary needs to build and commission the Paks-2 nuclear power plant as soon as possible,” the expert concludes.

In early October, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced that the Russian side had already begun production of reactor vessels for new power units.