The Paks II nuclear power plant construction project, which has faced numerous obstacles and technical delays for years, now has a significant opportunity to move forward following the decision by the Trump administration to lift some sanctions that had previously hindered its realization.
One of the earlier restrictions, part of a broader package of sanctions against Russia, involved a ban on cooperation with Russian state-owned nuclear companies, including the contractor for the Paks II project. On the technical side, the planned pouring of the first concrete has been postponed from 2025 to 2026, after an incident in which part of the reinforced concrete wall of the working pit collapsed. The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) halted construction works on the southern section of Unit 5 on February 6 and compiled a detailed inspection checklist.
However, after thorough inspections, HAEA last week granted permission for the continuation of construction, under the condition that additional safety measures are implemented and constant monitoring of geotechnical conditions is ensured.
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Sanctions Eased for Civil Nuclear Energy
On June 27, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued General License 115B, which allows certain transactions related to civil nuclear energy, including projects initiated before November 21, 2024. Although Paks II is not specifically mentioned, Hungary believes the project falls under the license’s scope, as it is an infrastructure initiative launched back in 2014. The license covers activities such as procurement and transportation of nuclear fuel, construction, and maintenance of facilities, but excludes cooperation with specific Russian financial institutions for projects launched after the specified date, as reported by World Nuclear News.
The U.S. decision to ease sanctions for civil nuclear projects opens a pathway for Paks II to proceed, giving Hungary political room to continue its cooperation with Russia and France in the energy sector. This could lead to the construction of two additional modern VVER-1200 reactors, which, according to the country’s plans, may be connected to the grid in the 2030s.
Energy portal
