The Chairman and CEO of Paks II Ltd. explained during the executive panel discussion on the challenges and dilemmas of the transforming electricity market, emphasizing that due to changing factors, nuclear power plant construction projects are worldwide surrounded by risks. – A large number of projects are currently in the preparation phase. Looking only at our neighboring countries, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Poland are all planning to build new nuclear power plants. Currently, Paks II is the largest and most advanced investment within the European Union, – he pointed out. He emphasized that in the absence of reference points, there is little to rely on during the preparation and implementation phases of such investments. He highlighted that China is leading globally in this area, where two state-owned companies are building more than fifty power plants simultaneously.

– It’s an important message for the nuclear construction community that it may be worthwhile to consider how to improve our relationships, how to align supply chains, and build benchmarks. It could be crucial for Europe today to develop the competence to measure ourselves, track our progress, share experiences, learn from others, and thereby build a safely operable nuclear power plant in a shorter timeframe, – he stressed.

During the panel discussion, Gergely Jákli also noted that while the market has high expectations for the emergence of small modular reactors, their construction will also face challenges similar to those encountered in large-scale plant construction. He pointed out that SMR projects must also consider site-specific geotechnical and geological factors, involve complex logistics, and require appropriate infrastructure.