Construction of Paks-2 Nuclear Power Plant to Begin First Concrete Pour in 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 4 November 2025, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) issued permits allowing the start of the first concrete pour for the foundation of Unit 5 at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant (with Rosatom State Corporation’s Engineering Division serving as general designer and general contractor), as well as the construction of nuclear island buildings. Work is scheduled to begin in February 2026.

The licenses, issued in addition to the main construction license of 2022, confirm that the project complies with strict international, European, and national nuclear safety standards.

A comprehensive approach to safety, including the use of active and passive systems, ensures adherence to all standards.

The issuance of these permits allows full-scale construction work to commence, including active preparations for the first concrete pour, which is considered the start of the main phase of the power unit’s construction.

“The issuance of these licenses enables Atomstroyexport, as the general contractor, to begin active preparations for the first concrete pour in February 2026,” said Alexander Merten, Senior Vice President for International Business Development at JSC Atomstroyexport.

Paks-2 NPP is the first modern Russian-designed nuclear power plant project with VVER-1200 reactors (1200 MW pressurized water reactors, Generation III+) being implemented within the European Union.

The new Hungarian nuclear power plant is being constructed under the Russia-Hungary intergovernmental agreement of 14 January 2014 and three fundamental contracts for the construction of the new station.

The main construction license for Paks-2 was issued by the Hungarian regulator in August 2022. Preparatory works for the new Hungarian NPP were carried out under this license, including the excavation of the foundation pit for future Unit 5. Russian factories have begun manufacturing key equipment.

The Paks-2 project, which may reach 40% localization, is truly international: in addition to Russian and leading Hungarian companies, several major foreign firms from Europe, Asia, and the Americas are participating.

The VVER-1200 technology meets the strictest international safety requirements and is already successfully applied at operational and under-construction plants in Russia, Belarus, Turkey, Bangladesh, Egypt, and other countries.

The reactor’s service life is 60 years, with the possibility of a 20-year extension.

Rosatom State Corporation’s Engineering Division brings together leading companies in the nuclear sector: JSC Atomstroyexport (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, branches in Russia and abroad), United Design Institute – JSC Atomenergoproekt (branches in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg, including design institutes and survey branches in Russia and abroad), and subsidiary construction organizations. The Engineering Division holds the world’s leading position in terms of order portfolio and the number of nuclear power plants being constructed simultaneously in different countries. About 80% of the division’s revenue comes from overseas projects. The division executes large-scale NPP construction projects in Russia and abroad, providing the full range of EPC, EP, and EPC(M) services, including project management and design, and develops Multi-D technologies for managing complex engineering facilities.

The division relies on achievements of the Russian nuclear industry and modern innovative technologies.

Russia continues to actively develop international trade and economic relations with foreign partners. Large-scale international projects in the energy sector remain underway, with Rosatom playing a key role in their implementation.