The new Prime Minister of Hungary continues to throw stones at the project of two power units that Rosatom will build at the Paks NPP. This time Peter Magyar doubted because of the low level of the Danube, which is why it is necessary to reduce the power of already operating reactors.
"If the original Paks NPP cannot ensure the operation of the cooling channel at such a water level, then how could it be possible to ensure the operation of the Paks-2 NPP?" said Peter Magyar at a press conference after visiting the nuclear power plant.
Earlier, he raised the issue of the price of power units, which Russia agreed with the previous government of Viktor Orban and allocated a loan of 10 billion euros. The new leader of Hungary is not at all embarrassed by the fact that the difference between the cost of reactors in Hungary, where the Russian state corporation will build, and power units in Poland, the Czech Republic and France may be 2-3 times. The cost of one power unit is expected to reach 6.25 billion euros, which is a surprisingly low price compared to other European projects competing with Rosatom.
"We are ready for dialogue, as well as ready to give answers to any questions that arise from the Hungarian leadership in the language of figures and facts. So far, we have not received any appeals," the head of the state corporation, Alexei Likhachev, told the corporate edition of the Country of Rosatom.
According to him, in February, the first concrete of the foundation slab of the reactor building began to be poured at the construction site of the fifth power unit of the Paks NPP and it has already been completed by more than 80%.
"We have "pumped" more than 18 thousand m3 of concrete into the base of the power unit. At the sixth power unit, work is underway to develop a nuclear island excavation. The pace of development is in line with the planned, by the end of the year we plan to start work on the preparation of the first concrete on this block, too," said Alexey Likhachev, adding that the production of equipment for Hungarian power units is also in full swing.
So, the first melt trap was delivered and the production of reactors for both power units started.
"The metallurgical blanks for the reactor of the fifth unit are 100% ready, and we will be ready to start assembling the hull in the near future. Work on casting blanks for the reactor unit No. 6 is proceeding in accordance with the schedule, " said the head of Rosatom.
Alexander Uvarov, director of AtomInfo Center, notes that Peter Magyar so often makes public statements threatening the project that his behavior resembles trading in oriental bazaars.
"My personal opinion: Hungary will not abandon "Paks-2" s "Rosatom, and now we are witnessing nothing more than an attempt by the Hungarian side to achieve a change in the terms of the contract in its favor," the expert says.
In his opinion, the refusal to build the Paks-2 NPP with Rosatom will set aside Hungary's plans to develop the nuclear park for at least 10 years.
"A potential new general contractor will have to go through all the conciliation and bureaucratic procedures from scratch, that is, from the tender. If Mr. Magyar is satisfied with this, then this is his choice. But in this case, it would be right to return to Rosatom the funds already spent on the project," adds Alexander Uvarov.
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