Paks Nuclear Power Plant

VVER is the Soviet designation for a pressurized water reactor. The number following VVER, in this case 440, represents the power output of the original design. The VVER-440 Model V213 was a product of the first uniform safety requirements drawn up by the Soviet designers. This model includes added emergency core cooling and auxiliary feedwater systems as well as upgraded accident localization systems.

Each reactor contains 42 tons of lightly enriched uranium dioxide fuel. Fuel takes on average three years to be used (or "burned") in the reactors; after this the fuel rods are stored for five years in an adjacent cooling pond before being removed from the site for permanent disposal.{{ cite web | url = http://paksnuclearpowerplant.com | title = Paks Nuclear Power Plant website (English version) | accessdate = 11 August 2009 }}

The power plant is nearly 100% owned by state-owned power wholesaler Magyar Villamos Művek. A few shares are held by local municipalities, while a voting preference or "golden" share is held by the Hungarian government.

One brand-new reactor pressure vessel was bought from Poland after the Żarnowiec Nuclear Power Plant project was abandoned in 1990.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

In 2000, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant commissioned a feasibility study which concluded that the plant may remain in operation for another 20 years beyond the original 30-year design lifetime. The study was updated in 2005 with similar conclusions.

In November 2005, Hungary's Parliament passed a resolution with overwhelming bipartisan majority to support the lifetime extension.

The feasibility study concluded that the non-replaceable parts are in sufficient condition to remain in operation for another 20 years while a minority of replaceable parts needed replacement or refurbishment.

The power generator made repeated surveys of public opinion on the lifetime extension and concluded that support for the decision hovered near 70%.{{ cite web | url = http://paksnuclearpowerplant.com/service-life-extension | title = Paks Nuclear Power Plant website (English version) - Service life extension | accessdate = 11 August 2009 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100129020304/http://paksnuclearpowerplant.com/service-life-extension | archivedate = 29 January 2010 }}

Following the Fukushima I nuclear accidents in March 2011, Hungary's government said it would conduct a stress test on the Paks Nuclear Power Plant to assess safety, but it would not abandon plans for lifetime extension and it would also go ahead with plans for its expansion.{{cite web |url = http://nol.hu/gazdasag/paks_nem_zar_be |title = Paks nem zár be |date = 17 March 2011 |accessdate = 22 March 2011 }}

Unit 1 was granted a license-extension to 2032 in 2012, unit 2 to 2034 in 2014, and unit 3 to 2036 in 2016. Unit 4 got its license extended till 2037 in 2017.{{cite news |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Paks-unit-2-gets-20-year-life-extension-27111401.html |title=Paks unit 2 gets 20-year life extension |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=27 November 2014 |accessdate=27 November 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/RS-Paks-3-operating-licence-extended-to-2036-06011701.html |title=Paks 3 operating licence extended to 2036 |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=6 January 2017 |accessdate=9 January 2017}}

The nine Ganz power generators were to be serviced by Alstom once per year between 2013 and 2021.{{cite news |url=http://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsalstom-to-retrofit-generators-at-paks-nuclear-plant |title=Alstom to retrofit generators at Paks nuclear plant |publisher=Nuclear Engineering International |date=7 August 2013 |accessdate=8 August 2013}}

Thanks to optimizations, modernization and fuel upgrades, it was possible to safely increase the output power of the Unit 4 reactor to 500 MWe in 2006, followed by Unit 1 in 2007. With upgrades to the remaining two units the plant's power generation reached 2000 MWe in 2009.{{cite web | url = http://entrac.iaea.org/I-and-C/TM_PRAGUE_2007_05/CD/Papers/Major_paper.pdf | title = Core monitoring system modernization at Paks NPP to serve unit power uprating | date = May 2007 | accessdate = 11 August 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111004072832/http://entrac.iaea.org/I-and-C/TM_PRAGUE_2007_05/CD/Papers/Major_paper.pdf | archive-date = 4 October 2011 | url-status = dead }}{{ cite web | url = http://paksnuclearpowerplant.com/capacity-upgrade | title = Paks Nuclear Power Plant website (English version) - Capacity upgrade | accessdate = 11 August 2009 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100323192426/http://paksnuclearpowerplant.com/capacity-upgrade | archivedate = 23 March 2010 }}

On 30 March 2009 the National Assembly of Hungary gave its principal consent by votes 330 for, 6 against and 10 abstentions to the preparation works of the possible new units. On 26 February 2010 the owner state company MVM Group decided the expansion with about 2 trillion Hungarian Forints price.{{cite news |url=http://www.bbj.hu/business/ceo-says-construction-of-new-blocks-at-paks-could-be-completed-by-2020-2025_51681 |title=CEO says construction of new blocks at Paks could be completed by 2020-2025 |publisher=Budapest Business Journal |date=8 February 2010 |accessdate=15 January 2014 |archive-date=16 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116140533/http://www.bbj.hu/business/ceo-says-construction-of-new-blocks-at-paks-could-be-completed-by-2020-2025_51681 |url-status=dead }}

On 18 June 2012 the Hungarian government ranked Paks expansion as a "high priority project of the national economy", in this context established a committee (Nuclear Power Governmental Committee) for preparation of the factual steps. The Nuclear Power Governmental Committee is headed by Viktor Orbán (Prime Minister) and has two members; Mihály Varga (Minister of National Economy) and Zsuzsanna Németh (National Developmental Minister).{{cite news |url=http://www.napi.hu/magyar_gazdasag/kulonos_sietseg_kiemelt_beruhazas_lett_a_paksi_bovites.522760.html |title=Paks expansion became a high priority project |publisher= Napi Gazdaság |date=12 June 2012 |accessdate=15 January 2014}} As of 2016, Hungary is said to import 30% of its electricity.{{cite news |url=http://www.politico.eu/article/pressure-mounts-on-vestager-as-hungary-nuclear-decision-looms/|title=Hungary's nuke deal puts Vestager on spot |work= Politico |date=22 November 2016 |accessdate=23 November 2016}}

According to the agreement signed by Zsuzsanna Németh (National Developmental Minister of Hungary) and Sergey Kiriyenko (Rosatom chairman) on 14 January 2014 Paks Nuclear Power Plant will be expanded by the Russian state company Rosatom.{{cite news |url=http://www.bbj.hu/business/its-official-rosatom-backs-plans-to-double-paks-capacity_74439 |title=It's official: Rosatom backs plans to double Paks capacity |publisher= Budapest Business Journal |date=15 January 2014 |accessdate=15 January 2014}} Eighty percent of the project's cost will be financed with a 10 billion Euro credit line from Russia.{{cite news |url=http://www.bbj.hu/politics/varga-cheapest-credit-line-for-paks-necessary_74438 |title=Varga: Cheapest credit line for Paks necessary |publisher= Budapest Business Journal |date=15 January 2014 |accessdate=15 January 2014}}{{cite news |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Paks-II-building-work-to-start-soon,-says-Russian |title=Paks II building work to start soon, says Russian president |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=20 September 2018 |accessdate=22 September 2018}} Subject to European Commission approval, construction of two VVER-1200 reactors was planned to start in 2019.{{cite news |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-Hungary-hopeful-of-Paks-approval-within-weeks-20091601.html |title=Hungary hopeful of Paks II approval within weeks |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=20 September 2016 |accessdate=30 September 2016}} On 6 March 2017, the European Commission announced its approval.{{cite web|url=

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-464_en.htm |title= State Aid: Commission clears investment in construction of Paks II nuclear power plant in Hungary |website= europa.eu |date= 6 March 2017 |accessdate= 10 March 2017}} János Süli, former CEO of the nuclear power station, was appointed Minister without Portfolio in the Third Orbán Government in May 2017, responsible for the planning, construction and commissioning of the two new blocks at Paks Nuclear Power Plant.{{cite news|title=Letette az esküt Süli János, a paksi bővítésért felelős miniszter|url=https://444.hu/2017/05/02/letette-az-eskut-suli-janos-a-paksi-bovitesert-felelos-miniszter|accessdate=29 September 2017|publisher=444.hu|date=2 May 2017}}

On 20 June 2019 the Paks II Zrt. (Paks II Ltd.) reported on their website that the preparation of the construction site has started including more than 80 service buildings.{{cite web |last1=Mittler |first1=István |title=The construction of the first facilities of the construction and erection base of Paks II. Nuclear Power Plant has started |url=http://www.paks2.hu/en/media/lapok/Details.aspx?NewsID=57 |website=Paks II. Zrt. |accessdate=21 June 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} On 30 June 2020 the application for the construction license has been submitted to the Hungarian nuclear regulatory authority.{{Cite web|url=https://ria.ru/20200706/1573941273.html|title = "Росатом" ожидает получить лицензию на АЭС "Пакш-2" в 2021 году|date = 6 July 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Energy-regulator-issues-construction-permit-for-Pa |title=Hungary's Paks II project receives construction approval |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=23 November 2020 |access-date=23 November 2020}} On 26 August 2022, the regulator issued the license, and construction was expected to start within a few weeks,{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/26/hungary-approves-construction-two-russian-built-nuclear-reactors |title=Hungary approves construction of two Russian-built nuclear reactors |agency=AFP |newspaper=The Guardian |date=26 August 2022 |access-date=26 August 2022}} with completion planned for 2032.{{cite news |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Hungary-expects-Paks-II-by-2032-plans-fresh-Paks-o |title=Hungary expects Paks II by 2032, plans fresh Paks operating extension |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=9 January 2023 |access-date=10 January 2023}}

In December 2024 Paks II has gotten approval for pouring first concrete.{{cite news |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/paks-ii-gets-key-approval-for-pouring-of-first-concrete |title=Paks II gets key approval for pouring of first concrete |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=2 December 2024 |access-date=2 December 2024}}

According to the official website of Paks II NPP, the cost of the project is fixed at EUR 12.5 Billion.{{Cite web |title=Ten reasons for Paks II. - Paks 2 EN - Paks2 |url=https://www.paks2.hu/web/paks-2-en/10-reasons |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250405115127/https://www.paks2.hu/web/paks-2-en/10-reasons#arg-card-5 |archive-date=2025-04-05 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Paks 2 EN |language=en-US}} The World Nuclear News mentioned in an article that Russian state loan of up to EUR 10 Billion will be provided to finance 80 percent of the project.{{Cite web |title=Paks II says excavation work complete, awaiting permission for first concrete |url=https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/paks-ii-says-excavation-work-complete-and-awaiting-permission-for-first-concrete |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250405122341/https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/paks-ii-says-excavation-work-complete-and-awaiting-permission-for-first-concrete |archive-date=2025-04-05 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=World Nuclear News |language=en}}

An INES level 3 event ("serious incident") occurred on 10 April 2003 at the Unit 2 reactor. The incident occurred in the fuel rod cleaning system located under {{convert|10|m|ft}} of water in a cleaning tank next to the spent fuel cooling pond, located adjacent to the reactor in the reactor hall. The reactor had been shut down for its annual refueling and maintenance period on 28 March and its fuel elements removed.{{cite web | url = http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Reports/nsr2003.pdf | title = Nuclear safety review for the year 2003 | work = International Atomic Energy Agency | date = August 2003 | accessdate = 11 August 2009 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080509070730/http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Reports/nsr2003.pdf | archivedate = 9 May 2008 }}

The cleaning system had been installed to remove dirt and corrosion from fuel elements and control rods during shutdown, as there had previously been problems with magnetite corrosion products from the steam generators being deposited on the fuel elements which affected the flow of coolant. The sixth set of thirty partially spent elements were in the tank having been cleaned, the cleaning having finished at 16:00. At 21:50, radiation alarms mounted on the cleaning system detected a sudden increase in the amount of krypton-85. The suspicion was that one of the fuel rod assemblies was leaking. At 22:30, the reactor hall was evacuated because of elevated radiation levels both there and in the ventilation stack.{{cite web | title = Report to the Chairman of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Commission on the Authority investigation of the incident at Paks Nuclear Power Plant on 10 April 2003 | url = http://tpc.mingorp.hr/eng/news/paks-report.pdf | work = Technical Support Centre (TPC), Hungarian Ministry of the Economy, Labour and Entrepreneurship | publisher = Hungarian Atomic Energy Agency | date = 23 May 2003 | accessdate = 11 August 2009 | archive-date = 27 September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927122939/http://tpc.mingorp.hr/eng/news/paks-report.pdf | url-status = dead }}

At 02:15 the following morning, the hydraulic lock of the cleaning vessel lid was released, and immediately the dose rate increased significantly (6-12 millisieverts/hour) around the spent fuel pond and the pool containing the cleaning machine, and the water level dropped for a short time, by about {{convert|7|cm|in|abbr=on}}. Water samples from the pond showed contamination due to damaged fuel rods. The lid on the cleaning machine was winched up at 04:20, but one of the three lifting cables attached to it broke; and it was not finally removed until 16 April.

The incident was initially given an INES rating of 2 ("incident"). However a video examination of the damaged fuel elements following the successful removal of the lid caused the rating to be raised to 3 ("serious incident"). This revealed that cladding on the majority of the 30 fuel elements had been broken, with radioactive spent uranium fuel pellets spilling from the elements into the bottom of the cleaning tank. Apart from the release of radioactive material, a concern was that the accumulation of a compact mass of fuel pellets could lead to a criticality accident, as the pellets were in a tank of neutron moderating water. Water containing neutron absorbing boric acid was added into the tank to raise its concentration to 16 g/kg to prevent this. Ammonia and hydrazine were also added to the water to help with the removal of radioactive iodine-131.

An investigation by the Hungarian Atomic Energy Agency concluded that the cause of the incident was inadequate cooling of the fuel elements, which were heated due to the radioactive decay of short-lived fission products. These were kept cool by water circulated by a submerged water pump. However the cooling was inadequate, leading to the damage to some elements through a build-up of steam around them, depriving them of most of their cooling. The investigation proposed that the severe damage probably occurred when the lid was released, causing thermal shock to cladding because of the sudden entry of cool water into the system, and explosive steam production.

One of the interesting results of the investigation was that the Hungarian Atomic Agency had placed too much trust in the technology and knowledge of the French Framatome Company. The agency did not investigate documentation provided by the company deeply enough, missing a fatal design flaw in the Framatome-designed, produced, and operated cleaning equipment.

The discharge of radioactive gases through the stack continued for several days after the incident, although the Hungarian Atomic Energy Agency determined that the radiation levels adjacent to the plant were only about 10% above normal. However, the reactor remained out of service for over a year, finally resuming commercial electricity production in September 2004.{{cite web | url = http://www.atomeromu.hu/download/543/Helyreallitas_hirek.zip | title = PAKS Nuclear Power Plant press release archive | accessdate = 11 August 2009 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110721103527/http://www.atomeromu.hu/download/543/Helyreallitas_hirek.zip | archivedate = 21 July 2011 }}

The damaged fuel was completely removed by the end of 2006{{cite web |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=12806&LangType=2057 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826161011/http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=12806&LangType=2057 |archive-date=26 August 2014 |title=Removal of damaged fuel completed at Paks}} and in 2014 transported to Russia for final disposal.{{Cite web|url=http://www.politics.hu/20140814/ten-years-after-incident-paks-fuel-rods-transported-to-russia/|title=Ten years after incident, Paks fuel rods transported to Russia}}

On 9 April 2005, Unit 1 was shut down for planned maintenance. The defect that occurred during the cooling of the block was classified as INES grade 1 (abnormality), although the power plant originally requested a zero rating.{{Cite web|title=Paks: csak a vakszerencsén múlott, hogy nem lett Csernobil|url=http://www.ma.hu/tart/rcikk/a/0/145338/1|work=www.ma.hu|accessdate=26 June 2019}}

A Self Powered Neutron Detector (SPND) was dropped when the wire rope holding it broke during an outage on 4 May 2009. The event was rated as INES 2. All staff were safely evacuated, and no member was exposed to more than the permitted daily radiation dose.{{cite web | url = http://www.nucnet.org/all-the-news/2009/05/06/outage-incident-at-hungary-s-paks-4-rated-ines-level-2 | work = NucNet | title = Outage Incident At Hungary's Paks-4 Rated INES Level 2 | date = 6 May 2009 | accessdate = 11 August 2009}}

On 6 September 2012, scheduled work was done on a gate, but the required written instructions were not completed in time. This is an administrative mismatch and was classified as 1 in the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES).{{Cite web|title=Rendellenesség a paksi atomerőműben|url=http://alfahir.hu/rendellenesseg_a_paksi_atomeromuben-20120906|work=alfahir.hu|accessdate=18 June 2019|language=hu}}

Malfunctions (operational events) below the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES) are published quarterly by the MVM Paks Nuclear Power Plant.{{Cite web|url=http://www.atomeromu.hu/hu/Rolunk/Hirek/Lapok/default.aspx|title=Kezdőlap|website=www.atomeromu.hu|language=hu-hu|access-date=26 June 2019}} According to IAEA, these mean no risk, yet a part of these resulted in partial or complete block shutdowns.

On the morning of 14 July 2016 reactor 1 was automatically shut down due to an equipment malfunction, which did not pose any safety threat. The reactor was brought back to full capacity the afternoon of the following day with the malfunction to be reviewed by the national regulator. The shut down came one week after a separate malfunction of a generator forced the plant to reduce its power output.{{cite news|url= https://dailynewshungary.com/paks-block-re-starts-after-malfunction-corrected/ |title= Paks block re-starts after malfunction corrected |website= dailynewshungary.com |date= 16 July 2016 |accessdate= 10 March 2017}}

{{Portal|Hungary|Energy|Nuclear technology}}

• Energy in Hungary
• Nuclear power in Hungary

{{Reflist}}

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• [http://www.atomeromu.hu/en/Lapok/default.aspx Paks Nuclear Power Plant website (English version)]
• [https://atomeromu.mvm.hu/Rolunk Paks NPP website (Hungarian version)]

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Category:Nuclear power stations in Hungary

Category:Nuclear power stations using VVER reactors

Category:Nuclear power stations using pressurized water reactors

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Category:Hungary–Russia relations