ENERGO: Hungary rethinking Russian involvement in Paks NPP expansion

Hungary has begun talks with France to increase its role in the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant, which could eventually lead to it replacing Russian contractor Rosatom, reported the Financial Times.

Hungarian officials talking to the FT acknowledged that the government has concerns about the Russian involvement in the project due to the prolongation of the war.

French President Emmanuel Macron received Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Paris on March 13, ahead of the EU summit. The French leader called on Hungary to support the ratification of Sweden and Finalnd as Nato members and stressed the need for a united EU stance behind Ukraine.  Energy security issues were also on the agenda. As more details emerge from the meeting, these could have dominated the talks.

On the sideline of Orban’s visit to Paris, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto met with executives of France nuclear company Framatome, which won a multi-billion euro contract together with Germany's Siemens for a control system for the Paks power plant. Hungary has offered France a bigger role in the project after the German government blocked the delivery of the control system, citing Rosatom’s involvement in the project.

Hungarian officials talking to the FT acknowledged that the government is in the midst of rethinking the €12.5bn project. According to them, the longer the war drags on and the sanctions last, the more likely it becomes that Russian participation in the project may have to be phased out altogether.