Prime Minister’s Office: EU okays Hungary-Russia nuclear upgrade pact

Budapest, January 16 (MTI) – Brussels has told the Hungarian government it has no objections to a Hungarian-Russian agreement on upgrading its Paks nuclear plant, Janos Lazar, the head of the Prime Minister’s Office said today.

Nevertheless, a working group will be set up to facilitate cooperation with the EU’s energy directorate, Lazar told a news conference.

As regards a Russian interstate loan to be offered for the Paks upgrade, Lazar said Moscow had offered the loan to Hungary at an interest rate better than market rates. The Hungarian budget will be able to finance the loan, he said, adding that the project was not a business venture but a agreement between two states. Lazar insisted that the cost of the loan would not be built into Hungarian electricity prices.

The Russian energy company Rosatom, which is likely to be tasked with building two new blocks at Paks, has offered its services at a good price, Lazar said, adding that every step of the procedure will be put through a tender once Rosatom starts building work.

All Hungarian and EU laws will be duly observed during the programme, he said.

Photo: erdely.ma

Source: http://hungarymatters.hu/