The head of Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, is “cautiously optimistic” that the construction of two new units of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant will continue in Hungary in the wake of Fidesz’s loss to Tisza. However, according to the Tisza head, Péter Magyar, “all contracts” will come under review.
Magyar noted the price tag of Paks at his first presser, writes Telex, where he called for constructive dialogue with Moscow while also pushing for an end to the war Russia started in Ukraine.
“I am glad that the Kremlin spokesman said what he said, that they respect the results of the Hungarian elections, that they heard that both I and the new government are ready for a pragmatic relationship. I can confirm this. As many European countries have a pragmatic relationship with Russia, since geography cannot be overridden,” Magyar said.
“We are also striving for this, since we are exposed to Russia in energy resources, (and) since there is also an incredibly overpriced expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant. I can say that we will review all contracts, renegotiate them if necessary, terminate them if necessary, and improve the financial conditions if necessary.”
In response, Likhachev said during an interview with Russian state television: “We assume that the new government, led by Péter Magyar, will be pro-Hungarian and will act in the interests of the Hungarian people, including the projects to be implemented. This naturally includes the Paks project. There have been decades of cooperation in this area, and the results are the reactors already in operation and the two new blocks, of which Hungarian and Russian nuclear industry experts are rightly proud. The two new reactors are at a very advanced stage, and spectacular work began at the beginning of the year with the first concrete pouring. The construction has reached a turning point. All joint decisions to continue the construction have been accepted by the Hungarian side.”
“We maintain our moderate optimism that the development of nuclear energy is indispensable for Hungary. Starting from this purely Hungarian need, I believe that the government should develop its first steps taking this into account,” concluded the head of Rosatom.
Meanwhile, Russian press secretary Dimitry Peskov told TASS: “For now, we have noted with satisfaction that, to our knowledge, (Magyar) is willing to engage in a pragmatic dialogue. In this case, there is mutual will on our part, and we will then proceed from the concrete steps taken by the new Hungarian government.”
