Russian state-owned nuclear corporation Rosatom announced it has begun site preparatory work for the proposed expansion of the Paks nuclear power station in south-central Hungary.
Rosatom said in a statement that it has begun working on groundwater cut-off in compliance with licences issued by Hungary’s nuclear regulator.
The company said groundwater cut-off and subsequent soil stabilisation will pave the way for pit excavation works in preparation for the construction of the concrete foundation slab.
Groundwater cut-off involves the construction of an engineering structure consisting of a one-metre thick wall, up to 32 metres deep, and two-and-a-half kilometres in circumference. It is designed to keep site groundwater from seeping into the excavation pit.
Rosatom said that construction of auxiliary buildings and facilities, a concrete plant, warehouses and office buildings has also begun.
The €12.5bn ($13.6bn) Paks 2 project will see Russia supplying two new-generation VVER-1200 pressurised water reactor (PWR) units in a deal financed mostly with a Russian loan.
The main construction licence for Paks 2 was issued by the Hungarian regulator in August 2022.
The existing Paks station is Hungary’s only commercial nuclear power facility. Its four VVER-440 PWR units provide about 48% of the country’s electricity.
