In December 2024, excavation reached a depth of 23 meters, with over half of the 75,000 piles drilled for soil stabilization. The core catcher, a key safety component delivered in August, is now on-site. This thermally resistant steel cone is designed to contain reactor core melt in an emergency, preventing radioactive release. Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó anticipated the first concrete pour in early 2025, but a soil fracture in the pit has delayed this step. Russia’s Tass news agency reported that Rosatom, involved in the project, found no impact on the pit’s technical specs. However, the Hungarian authority halted work in the affected area and requested a detailed report on additional checks, with permission still pending but expected soon.
In February, Paks II Ltd Chairman and CEO Gergely Jákli, alongside Andrea Beatrix Kádár, Chairman of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, briefed the Hungarian Parliament’s Sustainable Development Committee. Jákli clarified: “The working pit did not collapse, but two corners on the prominent ‘peninsula’ in the southern section broke off, affecting half a percent of the more than 700-metre perimeter wall.” He noted the incident, 400 meters from Paks’ unit 4, had no effect on the operational plant. Monitoring of the impacted wall section continues, and after the January 30 detachment, work stopped, the area was secured, and an investigation launched. Jákli stressed: “In the nuclear industry preventive measures must be taken and we have done that,” emphasizing a thorough, unhurried review.
The project manages groundwater and construction water within design limits using a cut-off wall, ensuring controlled conditions. Jákli reiterated: “Safety continues to be the first priority in the decisions of Paks II Ltd.”
Paks II aims to add two VVER-1200 reactors to the existing four VVER-440 units, operational since the 1980s. An agreement signed in 2014 with Russian firms includes a EUR 10 billion (USD 10.5 billion) loan to cover 80% of costs. The construction license, applied for in July 2020, was granted in August 2022, with a 2023 timetable targeting grid connection in the early 2030s. The current delay reflects a cautious approach to ensure safety and stability before proceeding.
