The Paks II project may be granted both the environmental licence and the site licence at second instance this spring, Attila Aszódi, the Government Commissioner responsible for the maintenance of the capacity of the Paks atomic power station said at a conference.

The Government Commissioner reiterated at the conference organised in cooperation with the Alliance of Management and Scientific Societies and the National Federation of Social Associations: the project was granted the environmental licence at first instance at the end of last year and it was appealed against by two green organisations, but the Government Commissioner is now hopeful that the proceedings at second instance will soon be brought to a conclusion.

The site licence application was submitted to the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority last autumn, and the Government Commissioner expects the licence to be granted in the spring. He added: the application for the power plant construction permit can be compiled on the basis of the specifications laid down therein.

Regarding LMP’s referendum initiative concerning the Paks enlargement project, Mr Aszódi said: there is a need for a safe and smooth supply of electricity of adequate quality, as this is also laid down in the electricity legislation as an obligation. One cannot pick certain technical issues out of this complex project and present them as political ones. Anyone so doing jeopardises the ongoing and safe supply of electricity, he stressed.

In his lecture, he also reiterated: last November, the European Commission closed the infringement procedure which was instituted in connection with the issue of public procurement related to the Paks project, and concluded that the Hungarian Government proceeded appropriately when it entered into the relevant contracts with the Russian party.

There is only the issue of state aid that remains open before the Commission, and the Government Commissioner sincerely hopes that the final decision on this matter, too, will be adopted shortly, and the project will be given the go-ahead, Mr Aszódi indicated.

(MTI)