Rosatom's Machine-Building Division Cleared to Supply Equipment for Hungary's Paks II Nuclear Plant

Key Regulatory Approval Granted

Rosatom's machine manufacturing division, specifically Rosatom Mechanical Engineering LLC, has been granted crucial clearance to supply nuclear-based steam generating equipment for the Paks II Nuclear Power Plant project in Hungary. The approval was announced on October 10, 2025, following a comprehensive audit conducted by experts from Paks II Zrt. and inspectors from the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA). The audit confirmed that Rosatom Mechanical Engineering LLC fully complies with all necessary requirements, with no non-conformities identified.

The Paks II Project Overview

The Paks II project represents a significant expansion of Hungary's existing Paks nuclear power plant, located approximately 100 kilometers south of Budapest. The expansion will feature two new power units, designated as Units 5 and 6, each equipped with a VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactor. These reactors, supplied by Rosatom, will each have a capacity of 1,200 megawatts (MW), bringing the total additional capacity to 2.4 gigawatts (GW).

The foundation of the project lies in an intergovernmental agreement signed between Russia and Hungary on January 14, 2014. The total cost of the project is estimated at €12.5 billion, with Russia providing a state loan of up to €10 billion to finance the majority of the endeavor. The construction license for the new units was issued by Hungarian nuclear authorities in August 2022, confirming the project's adherence to stringent Hungarian and European nuclear safety regulations.

Progress and Future Outlook

This latest clearance is a vital step forward for the Paks II project, which aims to bolster Hungary's long-term energy independence and increase the share of nuclear power in the country's energy mix. The existing Paks plant, with its four VVER-440 reactors, already generates over 50% of Hungary's electricity.

Significant progress has already been made on the ground and in manufacturing:

• Manufacturing of metallurgical blanks for the reactor vessel of Unit 5 began in 2024, and for Unit 6 in 2025.
• Production of internal equipment for the reactor of Unit 5 also commenced in 2025.
• The first large nuclear island system, a core catcher, was delivered to the site in August 2024.

The pouring of the 'first concrete,' a symbolic and technical milestone marking the official start of major construction, is anticipated in November 2025. The new units are projected to be connected to the grid by the early 2030s, making Paks II the first modern Russian-designed nuclear power plant project with VVER-1200 reactors to be built within the European Union.