The Paks II project will further strengthen Hungary’s energy security, support sustainability and help ensure favourable electricity prices, Rosatom chief executive Alekssey Likhachev said on Thursday at the ceremony marking the first concrete pour at the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant. The event officially launched the foundation work for the reactor building of Unit 5 at the Paks site.
With the first concrete pour completed, Paks II now qualifies as a nuclear power plant under construction according to the classification of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Speaking at the ceremony, Likhachev described the day as a celebration of Hungarian nuclear energy and Hungarian–Russian relations, noting that the project has entered a new stage and is progressing with the support of the IAEA.
The Rosatom chief executive said the start of concrete works gives fresh momentum to the investment, while acknowledging that substantial work still lies ahead. He added that Rosatom is prepared to overcome the challenges involved and expressed hope that the project would not be the final chapter in Hungarian–Russian cooperation in the nuclear energy sector. Likhachev also thanked Hungary’s minister of foreign affairs and trade for his diplomatic efforts in support of the project and praised the IAEA leadership for maintaining professional independence.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi highlighted the role of nuclear energy in sustainability and said the Paks II investment would contribute to Hungary’s economic growth. He noted that the project has at times faced strong headwinds, but these challenges can be addressed through international cooperation.
János Süli, the Fidesz–KDNP member of parliament for the region, said the milestone was also an important moment for local residents. He stressed that progress on the project is essential, describing the construction of the nuclear plant as a matter of national strategic importance that underpins both affordable energy supply and energy sovereignty. Süli recalled key milestones of the project to date, including parliamentary backing and its confirmation in Hungary’s national energy strategy, which concluded that two additional nuclear units are necessary. He added that the most recent winter had once again demonstrated that Hungary cannot manage without nuclear power if it is to provide low-cost energy for households.
According to Rosatom, Paks II will be the first nuclear power plant within the European Union to operate Russian-designed VVER 1200 Generation III+ reactors. The first concrete pour follows the issuance of permits by the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority on 5 November 2025, authorizing the foundation works and construction of the reactor building for Unit 5. These permits, linked to the site license granted in 2022, confirm that the project meets international, European and national nuclear safety requirements.
After the foundation phase, construction will continue with the inner and outer protective shells of the reactor building and the installation of floor structures, followed by the installation of equipment. The first major component to be installed will be the core catcher beneath the reactor, a key element of the plant’s passive safety systems.
The new units at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant are being implemented under the Hungarian–Russian intergovernmental agreement signed on 14 January 2014, and an EPC contract covering design, procurement and construction. The construction licence for the VVER 1200 units was issued by Hungary’s nuclear regulator in August 2022, enabling the completion of preparatory works and the excavation of the construction pit for Unit 5.
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