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5 clusters · 16 sources · 32 days · First seen · Last updated

Hungary Paks II nuclear project review and investigation

Overview

The Hungarian government has initiated a review of the Paks II nuclear power plant expansion project, a major agreement with the Russian state corporation Rosatom. Prime Minister Péter Magyar raised concerns regarding the project’s economic justification, technical design, and adherence to timelines, specifically noting the lack of a closed-loop cooling system and the significant funds already spent on a site that remains largely undeveloped. While Rosatom has defended the project, claiming construction is proceeding according to schedule, the situation has escalated into a criminal investigation. Hungarian police, through the National Investigation Bureau’s Corruption and Economic Crime Department, are investigating a nearly 80 billion forint capital increase related to the project. The probe focuses on a payment made by the Hungarian state to the Russian contractor Atomstroyexport after the Court of Justice of the European Union annulled the European Commission’s approval of state aid for the project. Investigators are looking into suspicions of a breach of trust that may have caused significant financial loss. On September 8, 2026, internal Rosatom documents revealed that the project faces significant delays. While completion was previously scheduled for 2032, new confidential plans suggest the work will not be finished until late December 2034. This delay impacts Hungary’s energy security, as the original Paks plant is slated for decommissioning between 2032 and 2037. In response to the scrutiny, Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev stated in Vienna that the project is designed to operate safely even under hydrological conditions more severe than recent Danube drought levels. Likhachev reported that the foundation slab for the fifth block is nearly complete and work on the sixth block has begun, noting the involvement of European companies in preparing French-made turbines.

Entities

Rosatom · Alexey Likhachev · Hungary · Viktor Orbán · Paks II Nuclear Power Plant

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Timeline

  1. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Rosatom addresses Paks II. progress and future dialogue

    Rosatom CEO Alexey Likhachev confirmed Paks II. construction progress and stated the plant is designed for low water levels, while expressing readiness to discuss the project's future with the Hungarian govt.

  2. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Energy experts warn of Paks II delays and EU policy risks

    Experts warn of delays in Hungary's Paks II nuclear project and criticize European energy policies for undermining industrial competitiveness against rising Asian technological dominance.

  3. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Rosatom faces delays in Hungary's Paks II nuclear plant construction

    Rosatom's Paks II nuclear project in Hungary faces a two-year delay, with completion now expected in late 2034 instead of 2032, prompting a project review by Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Mađar.

  4. [POLITICS] 10 sources
    Paks II nuclear project investigation launched in Hungary

    Hungarian authorities have launched an investigation into a 79.63 billion forint capital increase for the Paks II nuclear project, citing suspected breach of trust and illegal state aid transfers.

  5. [BUSINESS] 5 sources
    Hungary reviews Paks II nuclear project with Rosatom

    Hungarian PM Péter Magyar is reviewing the Paks II nuclear expansion project with Rosatom, questioning its technology, costs, and adherence to the original 2024 operational timeline.

Sources

24.hu · aktuelno.me · etv.me · g7.hu · hajdupress.hu · hetek.hu · hirklikk.hu · hvg.hu · index.hu · kontroll.hu · kuruc.info · mfor.hu · mno.hu · privatbankar.hu · szabadsag.ro · vg.hu

This summary has been updated 4 times: see revision history