Press Release

International delegation validated the Safety Report of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant

An international delegation visited the Paks Nuclear Power Plant belonging to the MVM Holding as part of the international inspection in relation with the Aimed Safety Review that was performed last year. The preliminary assessment by the delegation found that last year's inspection of Paks NPP sufficiently evaluated the protection and resistance of the power plant regarding possible natural disasters, and such factors that affect safe operations. The international review enforced the findings and the validity of the national report, and acknowledged the results of the previously implemented significant safety enhancement plant programmes.

Fulfilling the request of the European Council, and based on the preliminary learnings of the Fukushima reactor accident, in Hungary an Aimed Safety Review - commonly referred to as Stress Test – was performed at the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.  According to the content and schedule agreed on by the advisory organisation of nuclear safety authorities for EU member states  on 28. October 2011 the Paks Nuclear Power Plant sent the final report of review findings to the Hungarian National Nuclear Authority (OAH). Based on this report the Hungarian Nuclear Authority composed a National Report for the European Commission.

All European Union member states that operate a nuclear power plant as well as Switzerland and Ukraine submitted National Reports that were evaluated by common methodology in a mutual international inspection in which Hungary participated actively. Within this framework – as a first step – the reviews were processed and evaluated by predefined areas by an ad-hoc committee of internationally renowned experts delegated by each country. Afterwards all questions raised by the committee were discussed with the experts who composed the reviews during an international conference. The presently concluded second phase of the international review meant an on-site inspection. The delegation checked the appropriateness of the findings of the Aimed Safety Review at the power plant.

The preliminary evaluation presently composed by the reviewing experts states that the Aimed Safety Review of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant sufficiently evaluated the protection and resistance of the plant regarding possible natural disasters, loss of electricity supply and final coolant, or possible severe accidents. The review did not find such conditions that would question the appropriateness of the plant base design. The review also acknowledged the achievements of the significant safety enhancement programmes previously carried out by the nuclear power plant. One of the benefits of the inspection was that several such options were defined which being implemented would further increase the safety of the plant.

Paks, 13. March, 2012. 

István Mittler
Communications Manager