Foreign Minister: Hungary’s energy supply guaranteed by Paks power plant

The “predictable and reliable” operations of the Paks nuclear power station guarantees Hungary’s energy supply, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Wednesday.

Both September deliveries of heating rods have arrived in Hungary, with the Russian manufacturer completing the second delivery by air, making a detour this time through Baltic and northern European airspace, Szijjártó said in a video on Facebook at Ferenc Liszt International Airport, from where he is traveling to a meeting in Kazakhstan of energy ministers of the Organisation of Turkic States.

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The current energy supply situation necessitates finding new partners, he said, which is why he is taking part in the meeting of energy ministers of Turkic states, whose countries enjoy major energy resources and transport routes, he added.

Separate talks will be held with his Kazakh and Azeri counterparts to discuss possible new sources of energy for Central Europe, and Europe more broadly, from the Caucasus and Central Asian region in the medium to long term.

He stressed that it is also clear that those who have a large amount of their own energy resources are really safe. “We Hungarians also have our own energy sources because of nuclear energy. The Paks nuclear power plant can provide half of Hungary’s electricity generation and one third of its supply. A nuclear power plant can only operate if it has nuclear fuel, so it is critical that sufficient fuel is always available,” said Szijjártó, stressing the importance of fuel supply.