Hungary officially begins construction of new Russian VVER-1200 nuclear unit

The second phase of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant has reached an important milestone. Technicians officially began construction of the country’s fifth nuclear unit with the first pour of concrete. The new unit, with an installed capacity of 1200 MW, will use a Russian VVER-1200 reactor. It is the first construction start for a nuclear unit in Europe in more than six years. The first of the two new reactors at Paks is scheduled to begin generating electricity in the early 2030s.

The expansion of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant has reached a significant milestone, as construction workers officially began building Unit 5 with the first pour of concrete. The two new units at Paks II will be equipped with Russian VVER-1200 reactors, each with a capacity of 1114 MW (net).

"If I had to name a project that had to overcome hundreds of obstacles, it would be Paks II. But this project is also the best example of determination and will. Today marks an important step not only for Hungary, but also for the international nuclear industry and sustainable energy production," said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi.

The first pour of concrete was preceded by a host of preparatory works, which construction workers have been carrying out since July 2023. Workers built a 2.7-kilometre-long wall separating the construction site from groundwater, enabling them to excavate the building pit and several dozen auxiliary buildings. The official concreting of Unit 5’s foundations will now continue for a full year, during which construction workers will use around 9,000 tonnes of concrete.

"Electricity generated by nuclear power plants is currently Hungary’s cheapest source of energy, enabling us to ensure the competitiveness of industry and affordable energy supplies for citizens," Hungarian MP János Süli stressed.

Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant currently has four VVER-440 units, commissioned in the 1980s. With a net installed capacity of 1900 MW, they account for around 50% of the country’s electricity mix.

Construction starts in Europe after 6 years

The plant applied for a construction permit in July 2020 and received it two years later. Hungary and Russia then agreed on a construction schedule in 2023, with the aim of connecting the new units to the grid in the early 2030s. The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority issued a permit for construction to officially begin last November. The start of construction at Paks II is also notable because it comes more than six years after the previous construction start in Europe, when work officially began on the second nuclear unit at Hinkley Point C in the United Kingdom.

"Hungary decided to pursue the new Paks II project at a time when international acceptance of nuclear energy was uncertain. Other countries have now also realised that there is no competitiveness without nuclear energy. Paks II is the flagship project of Europe’s resurgent nuclear industry," said Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Despite sanctions

Hungary and Russia agreed to build the new nuclear units in 2014, but the start of construction was postponed several times. The agreement also includes a Russian loan of up to EUR 10 billion (over CZK 240 billion), which is expected to cover up to 80% of the costs.

Paks II is also the first-ever Russian nuclear project to begin construction in a member state of the European Union, and is proceeding despite sanctions targeting Russia.