On 8 March 2011, Deputy State Secretary for Energy Pál Kovács, representing the Ministry of National Development, conducted negotiations with the delegation of the French company AREVA headed by Deputy Chairman Jean-Hugues Perreard. During the Budapest meeting the parties overviewed the most important technical conditions and financing opportunities that may be indispensable for the future extension of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.

In response to a question of the company having references, among others, from France, Finland and China, the MND representatives confirmed that the tender for building the blocks of the nuclear power plant may be announced in early 2012.

The new European energy policy focuses on three significant criteria: competitiveness, sustainability and the security of supply. Nuclear energy can be highly instrumental in the achievement of these objectives, as it offers numerous benefits that strengthen competitiveness, enhance the security of supply, facilitate the reduction of environmental pollution and climate protection, thus the performance of the criteria of sustainable development. This is confirmed by the fact that currently altogether 442 nuclear power plants operate and 65 blocks are being built all over the world. The installed total capacity of the currently operating power plants is 375,001 MW.

The 2030 national energy strategy under elaboration terms the establishment of new nuclear power plant capacities as an indispensable “option”.

In the future the Ministry of National Development will consult all the other potential applicants in issues related to nuclear power plant extension.

(Ministry of National Development , Department of Communication)