There are no scenarios for how we could maintain the performance of the economy and supply the population, if, for example, the construction of the Paks II project were to fail. There are no alternative future visions in this regard, János Máté Litkei, director of the Climate Policy Institute, told our newspaper.
So far, there is no mention of power plant construction being a victim of sanctions. The Paks II project is often misunderstood. The large-scale investment is a capacity maintenance project, i.e. its purpose is not capacity expansion. Today, Paks I produces 2,000 megawatts with four reactors. Paks II will produce 2,400 megawatts with two reactors, but according to the plans, the two power plants would only work together for a minimal time, as the new power plant would replace the old one.
Source: Paks II project visual plan/Paks II Zrt.
The currently operating Paks power plant must be shut down in the next decade.
If Paks II is not put into operation until the existing units are shut down, the country will face a very significant energy challenge. In addition, we could completely say goodbye to the carbon neutrality that Hungary has set as a goal for the coming decades.
The energy crisis and the war highlighted that the higher a country's import exposure, the more vulnerable its economy and the greater the danger its population is.
Rising prices and faltering supply would lead to serious social tensions.
It is easy to see that the construction of the power plant is important for Hungary.
We can see that things happen very quickly. There are voices that say that the sanctions should be extended to the energy sector: first to the oil sector, then to gas transportation and the import of nuclear fuel. However, these are not arguments supported by professional calculations, but rather opinions fueled by political fervor. Countries that have little or no dependence on Russia are calling for new sanctions.
Those who are less exposed to Russian oil and gas imports are vocal.
The European debates of the past few weeks have shown that there is a lack of European solidarity on these issues.
We have to be honest: there are no scenarios on how we could maintain the performance of the economy and supply the population, if, for example, the construction of the Paks II project were to fail. There are no alternative visions in this regard. If the construction of the nuclear power plant is suspended, there is only one possible solution: the continued operation of the natural gas power plants and the Mátra Power Plant, and forgetting the set climate goals.
Source and full article: vasarnap.hu/Gábor Tóth
Featured image: News TV illustration
