The environmental groups said in an earlier statement that the Pest County Government Office had turned down their earlier appeal against the project’s environmental permit.

They insisted that “a number of crucial issues” around the planned project, such as the handling of radioactive waste and protecting residents, as well as contingency plans for acts of terrorism, sabotage or war were still unresolved.

They also suggested that there were “no guarantees” that the plant, complete with two new blocks, would not overheat the river Danube, whose water is used in the plant’s cooling system.

The permit also fails to address a number of questions sufficiently, such as the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel rods, the organisations said.

The environmental protection permit for the upgrade came into force in March 2017. Hungary is building two more blocks at the Paks plant, the country’s only commercial source of nuclear power.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.