Hungarian Nuclear Authority Turns Down Paks Extension
- 4 Oct 2021 5:38 AM
- Hungary Around the Clock
The National Atomic Energy Authority (OAH) rejected the construction permit for the extension of the Paks nuclear power plant on Friday.
The deadline to evaluate the application was September 30, and the OAH had already granted a three-month extension of the deadline.
As there was no further room for another extension, Paks 2, the company in charge of the project, was asked to supplement the licensing document.
Russian contractor Rosatom failed to comply with EU safety standards from the outset, HVG reports.
The government originally planned to add the two new blocks with a capacity of 1,200MW each into operation by 2026, but the project is years behind schedule.
Last week, Viktor Orbán appointed Information and Technology Ministry deputy state secretary Andrea Kádár to lead the OAH, after the resignation of Gyula Fichtinger in April.
Parliament is also planning to restructure the operation of the nuclear watchdog, extending the mandate of the chairman to nine years. Independent MP, Bernadett Szél, a staunch opponent of the Paks expansion, said the government wants to maintain control of the organisation if it loses the election in 2022.
MTI Photo: Tamás Sóki
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