Declaration

Paks Nuclear Power Plant is completely safe and the programme of lifetime extension will continue

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On 23 March 2011 Tamás Fellegi, the minister of national development, who is responsible for energetic matters, visited Paks Nuclear Power Plant in order to be informed of its protection against natural catastrophes. During his visit the minister was informed of safety of the plant and evolution of the events in Japan by István Hamvas, Chief Executive Officer of Paks Nuclear Power Plant Ltd., Csaba Baji, Chief Executive Officer of Hungarian Power Companies Ltd. (MVM Zrt.) and József Rónaky, Director General of Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA). Then the minister visited the site and units of the plant.

During his visit Tamás Fellegi confirmed the following to journalists: although Hungary is not endangered by any hazards due to the events occurred in Japan, according to concurrent decision of the concerned persons, the nuclear power plant will immediately subject itself to a voluntary stress test as decided by the European Union. The minister stated the test would be mostly a procedure investigating the compliance with a system of criteria, rather than a simulation of specific emergency situations.

As it is known, in accordance with the decision of the European Union, nuclear power plants of the member states can attend a so-called stress test on a voluntary basis, which shall be performed with full transparency and information of the public. During the test special attention will be devoted to the protection against external flooding and earthquakes, and also to the review of emergency auxiliary systems, emergency preparedness plans and exercises. On an extraordinary meeting of the energy ministers of the Union held on 21 March 2011, which was called together by Tamás Fellegi, the member states agreed with the necessity of such tests and indicated their intent to participate.

Regarding the programmes of Paks NPP Tamás Fellegi stated the following: although the preparation process for lifetime extension will continue, the authorities will modify the licensing procedure and criteria, if it is requested as a result of the comprehensive analysis and safety review of the Japanese situation, which shall be completely met by the plant, of course.
Concerning the issue of possible capacity extension he outlined the following: Paks NPP is an essential and safe element of the domestic electricity system, the strategic documents being under preparation consider the nuclear generating capacities necessary in the next decades. Although the capacity extension has not been decided by the government yet, in the case of a possible positive decision the investment and new unit(s) shall meet the requirements to be generated from the experiences of the safety analyses in the near future.

Ministry of National Development
Communication Department

Budapest, 23 March 2011