Hungary shares experience with Kazakhstan in development of nuclear energy
Paks is the only nuclear power plant in Hungary located on the banks of the Danube, 100 km south of Budapest
The Kazakh delegation is getting acquainted with the experience of Hungarian partners in expanding the Paks nuclear power plant to ensure the country's energy security and independence, El.kz reports.
Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Kazyna Almasadam Satkaliyev and Director of Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants LLP Timur Zhantikin meet in Budapest with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Energy and the Atomic Energy Agency of Hungary, as well as with the management of the Paks NPP and EXIM Bank. The program of the visit includes a visit to the nuclear power plant and the construction site of future new power units.
Hungary is one of the leaders in the field of peaceful atom
Hungary is among the top 5 countries in the world in terms of the share of atom among power generation sources. In 2021, the Paks NPP covered 46.8% of the country's electricity needs, generating 15,121 million kWh of electricity. The station employs more than 2500 people. The nuclear power plant belongs to a subsidiary of the state-owned company, while the right of the decisive vote is for the Hungarian government.
Paks is the only nuclear power plant in Hungary. It is located on the banks of the Danube, 100 km south of Budapest. Four power units have been operating for 35-40 years. To increase the volume of electricity, it is planned to build two more. The uniqueness of the project is that new power units will be built next to the existing ones. The expansion of the Paks NPP is an international project in which companies from different countries participate.
For example, the turbines will be supplied by the largest international manufacturer of power plants General Electric (GE). Its representatives also participated in the meeting with the delegation of Kazakhstan. According to Gábor Szenes, Commercial Director of GE Steam Power, the company provides advanced energy technologies, including slow-moving steam turbines for nuclear power plants: "Our experience in nuclear power has more than 60 years, and the total capacity of the steam power equipment installed at the nuclear power plant is 200 GW."
World experience
Representatives of Kazakhstan are particularly interested in the choice of supplier and technology for the expansion of the Paks NPP, the experience of Hungary in cooperation with international partners, the impact of nuclear power plants on electricity prices, the safety of the plant, and the participation of local business in the project.
"Our visit is purely practical. We are impressed by your experience in the construction and operation of nuclear power plants. It is very important for our society that the Kazakhstan NPP project is international," Almasadam Satkaliyev said.
According to him, the final decision on the details of the construction of the station should be made by the government of Kazakhstan.
The Hungarian partners noted that in the process of creating a nuclear power plant, an open dialogue with society is very important. According to them, before building a station, it is necessary to enlist the support of most of the citizens.
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