Rosatom says it has no notice of Hungary ending Paks II contract, work on schedule
In short
Rosatom said on 21 October that it continues building the Paks II nuclear plant in Hungary on a schedule agreed with the customer. Its press service said it has received no official notice of an intent to terminate the contract and sees no legally justified reasons for it. Kommersant linked the statement to a report, citing two sources, that Budapest is considering replacing Rosatom as main contractor.
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Rosatom said on 21 October that it continues to carry out the project to build the Paks II nuclear plant in Hungary in line with a schedule agreed with the customer. The state corporation said production of the main equipment for the future units is under way in parallel. Its press service added that it had not received official notification from the customer of an intent to terminate the contract and sees no legally justified reasons for such a step. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 7 , 8 , 10 ]
Kommersant wrote that the company was commenting on a report published the same day which, citing two informed sources, said Budapest allows replacing Rosatom as main contractor. According to that report, Hungarian authorities intend to continue expanding the plant but lean towards the Russian company not taking part. The sources named no alternative, Kommersant said, but stressed that switching from a Russian to a European contractor would lower risks for Budapest, including possible sanctions against Rosatom. [ 10 ]
Interfax recalled that Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev said earlier in October that the company had no dialogue with the Hungarian authorities for now. He said work was under way at the level of technical customers and was constructive, but that projects of this scale are not carried out without government support. Likhachev added that Rosatom was hearing Hungarian leaders say the audit of the project was not finished. Vedomosti dated this statement to 16 October. [ 4 , 7 ]
Kommersant reported that in August Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar said Budapest was unhappy with the interim results of the audit of the project. It said the company's leadership had stressed it was ready to take account of any comments. Interfax quoted Likhachev as saying Rosatom was ready to answer any questions from Hungary about the project, including its cost. [ 4 , 10 ]
Vedomosti also noted that on 12 October Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service reported attempts by the European Commission to make Hungary give up cooperation with Rosatom. By the service's account, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had instructed officials to seek an end to the Russian company's participation in Paks II. [ 7 ]
The Paks plant is Hungary's only nuclear power plant. Vedomosti said its four operating VVER-440 units provide almost half of the country's electricity, and Paks II envisages two more units with VVER-1200 reactors. Interfax said Hungary's parliament approved the expansion in 2009 and the project's cost was then estimated at 12.5 billion euros. Concrete pouring began in February 2026, according to Kommersant and Interfax. [ 4 , 7 , 10 ]
Why it matters
The statement comes amid reports that Hungary may change the main contractor for the expansion of its only nuclear plant. Rosatom's head said earlier in October that the company has no dialogue with the Hungarian authorities, and that projects of this scale need government support.
Key facts
- Rosatom said it continues building the Paks II nuclear plant in Hungary on a schedule agreed with the customer. [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 7 ]
- Rosatom said production of main equipment for the future units is under way in parallel. [ 3 , 4 , 7 , 10 ]
- Rosatom's press service said it had received no official notice from the customer of an intent to terminate the contract and sees no legally justified reasons for such a step. [ 4 , 8 , 10 ]
- Kommersant said the statement was a response to a report, citing two informed sources, that Budapest allows replacing Rosatom as main contractor. [ 10 ]
- The Paks II project provides for two more units, No. 5 and No. 6; the project cost is estimated at 12.5 billion euros. [ 4 , 10 ]
- The ceremony for the first concrete at unit 5 took place in February 2026; Vedomosti gives the date as 5 February. [ 4 , 7 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Hungary will replace Rosatom as main contractor. Only Kommersant relays the report, from two unnamed sources, that Budapest allows this; Rosatom said it has no notice of such a decision.
- Who would replace Rosatom if Hungary changed contractor. Kommersant said the sources named no alternative.
- The outcome of the Hungarian government's audit of the project. Interfax quoted Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev as saying Hungarian leaders say the audit is not finished.
- Rosatom is the general contractor for Paks II, which provides for units 5 and 6 at the Paks plant. Reported by a single source so far
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS reports that Rosatom continues the Paks II project on schedule. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports that Rosatom has received no notice of intent to terminate the contract. [ 2 ]
- RIA Novosti quotes Rosatom's statement that the project is on the schedule agreed with the customer. [ 3 ]
- Interfax quotes Rosatom's press service on the absence of official notices and of legally justified reasons. [ 4 ]
- RBC reports Rosatom's statement that there are no grounds to leave the project. [ 8 ]
- Kommersant links the statement to a report that Budapest allows replacing Rosatom as main contractor. [ 10 ]