Address: H-7031 Paks, Pf. 71.

Phone: +36-75/505-000

Fax: +36-1/355-1332

Internet: www.paksnpp.com

The establishment of Paks Nuclear Power Plant was the largest industrial investment project of the 20th century in Hungary. By now, the NPP has a rated capacity of 1970 MW whereby it has a leading role in Hungary’s power generation with a 40% share of the national electrical output. In 2007, the four reactors of the NPP had a total electrical output of 14.818 GWh.

The electricity generated by the NPP is the cheapest on domestic level: in 2007, the price of a kilowatt-hour of electricity was HUF 10.16. In comparison with other electrical power plants, the NPP is the least environmentally polluting as it has no carbon-dioxide emissions, and by this saves the oxygen demand of 2 million people every year. This exactly equals the annual amount of oxygen produced by the forests of Hungary. Thus, Paks NPP is equally indispensable for the Country from the aspects of energy supply, of environmental protection and of the economy.

The safety of Paks NPP corresponds in every respect to that of other nuclear power plants of similar age that are in operation in the European Union. This fact has been established by the detailed review of the Western European Nuclear Regulators’ Association (WENRA).

The Management of Paks NPP Ltd., in full awareness of their responsibility for the Country’s energy supply, made a decision to the effect that – while preserving the high level of nuclear safety – they wish to extend the operating life of the reactors by 20 years – until 2032 to 2037. The Parliament voted the extension of working hours in the proportion of 96,6% on 21 November 2005.

It was a decision well founded in the respects of safety and environmental protection as well as in technical and economic respects. The experts of the NPP started the approval procedures for the acquisition of the offi cial licences prescribed by law, and, at the same time, began preparing for the operating lifetime extension. By the middle of 2008 the program for the extension of working hours had also been prepared, which was put in to the authority by the power plant on 14 November 2008. The NPP will implement the operating lifetime extension without the use of any subsidies or central budgetary funds.

Paks Nuclear Power Plant closed a successful year in 2008, as its power generation has exceeded the planned production by 0,2%. Concerning the performance increasing, new successes have been registered. Comparing to 2007, the reactor performance reached 108% in the 2nd Unit on 5th December 2008, and it reached 104% in the 3rd Unit on 31st October 2008 and probably it will achieve 108% in 2009.

Besides growing the performance and extending the working hours the power plant initiated building of new blocks as well. A new team was created which carried out expert examinations by analysing technological, economic, commercial, judicial and social aspects. Based on these professional examinations the Economic and Environmental Committee of the Parliament also agreed with discussing the proposal in the question of creating nuclear power plant blocks. On 30 March 2009 the Parliament approved (with 330 yes, 6 no and 10 abstentions, 95,4%) starting activities serving the preparation of establishing new blocks ont he site of nuclear power station of Paks.

After the decision made by the Hungarian Parliament, on 8 July 2009. the Hungarian Power Companies (MVM Group) established - with the high representation of Paks Nuclear Power Plant Plc.- the so called Lévai Project in the interest of the preparatory work for the extension of Paks NPP. The goal of the project is to execute the tasks which pave the way - in accordance with the fi ndings of the parliament decision - of the start of the extension of Paks NPP.

The NPP aims at gaining the support of the majority of the Hungarian society for its plans described above. Public opinion polls have shown year after year that 73% of the population agrees with the fact that there is a NPP in operation in Hungary.


This site in PDF format.