Hungary weighs dropping Rosatom from €12.5bn Paks nuclear expansion
Hungary is considering replacing Russia's Rosatom as main contractor on the expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant and has started sounding out other suppliers, Reuters reported, citing two people. Viktor Orban's government awarded the €12.5bn Paks II project to Rosatom without a tender in 2014, and Prime Minister Peter Magyar's government, in office since April, is reviewing the contract with a decision expected later this year or early next year. One source close to the administration said the government was leaning towards a conclusion that the expansion is necessary but that Rosatom should not be involved, while Rosatom said it had received no formal notification of any intention to terminate the contract.
Why it matters: The review tests whether an EU member state can unwind its dependence on Rosatom in civil nuclear power, placing the decision within the briefing's energy security theme.