Rosatom chief says talks with new Hungarian government on Paks II are on hold

At a press briefing in Moscow for the Russian Energy Week, Alekszej Lihacsov, chief executive of the state nuclear firm Rosatom, said there is presently no dialogue with Hungary regarding the Paks II reactor, citing an unfinished audit by Hungarian officials. He added that Rosatom is progressing with its approved manufacturing programme and regularly hands over finished work packages, receiving payment in line with the contract.

Hungarian authorities, led by the economic and energy minister, plan to finish the audit and decide by the end of the year whether to continue with additional reactors. The timeline for the plant’s completion, previously projected for 2031-2032, may be affected by the audit outcome. The situation reflects broader uncertainty about Hungary’s future involvement in nuclear energy projects.