Hungarian FM: It is a realistic goal to build Paks II by 2030

The expansion of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant has reached a new milestone with groundwork under the planned number six block now under way, and the 2030 completion target remains realistic, Péter Szijjártó, the minister of foreign affairs and trade, said on Tuesday.

Initial groundwork is taking place at an depth of five metres, Szijjártó said, noting that this stage of the process for block number five was already complete.

Some sections of the sixth block will be up to 23 metres deep to ensure the block’s stability and safety, he said, adding that 30-40 trucks are being used to dump the soil being dug up.

Meanwhile, work on the diaphragm wall is still ongoing, with 700 metres of it already built, Szijjártó said, adding that work on the reactor storage space was under way in Russia.

“This means that the target of completing the project by 2030 remains realistic,” he said.

The expansion of the Paks power plant is vital for Hungary’s long-term energy security, the minister said, adding that the new blocks will allow Hungary to produce around 70 percent of the electricity it consumes.