MVM Paks II. Ltd. had a far-reaching research including all the geological expertise between April 2015 and August 2016 as part of the Geological Research Program, in order to investigate and license the site of the two new nuclear power plant units. According to relevant legal requirements, the existence or non-existence of structures capable of surface fractures was researched among others.

The event was opened by Dr. Tamás Németh, member of the HAS, president of the Presidential Commission for Environmental Studies, then the chairman of the conference, government commissioner Dr. Attila Aszódi held a presentation about the licensing system and the scientific supervision of the new power plant units. He highlighted that during the site investigation every human and external, natural factors were considered which can impact the nuclear safety. These were highly focused during the design. The government commissioner also mentioned that the environmental licensing and site investigations necessary to determine the suitability of the site are still on-going. Dr. Aszódi emphasized regarding the nuclear safety that even those extreme events are considered which have a low probability to occur and such a security system will be used which will be able to handle such complex occurences as well. Following the presentation of the government commissioner for the maintenance of the performance of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant further professional presentations were held.  In front of the Paks NPP, on the left side of Danube, some 120 meters research core drilling was done on Dunaszentbenedek’s territory, the core samples were inspected with the well-known medical diagnostics CT equipment, among others. The modern method also reveals the hidden properties of the excavated layers.

For the exact same reason on the other section, on the Paks side, about 3-500 meters west-southwest from the Interim Spent Fuel Storage, 290 meters core drilling was done in 7 drillings altogether, whose core samples were inspected by CT as well.

Dr. Tamás Katona, doctor of the HAS spoke about the nuclear safety and scientific requirements of the site investigation. During his lecture he highlighted that even compared to foreign examples the Hungarian safety regulations are very strict. Dr. Géza Chikán presented the site’s geological characterization to the interested. A thorough presentation of the site drills and the evaulation of the drill core samples was given by him. Dr. Ferenc Horváth, doctor of the HAS gave a lecture called „Geodynamic-tectonic synthesis”, during which he spoke about the major tectonic processes of the Carpathian Basin. He presented the most advanced 3D seismic measurements and the GPS-based horizontal and vertical motion tests. Seismologist Dr. László Tóth spoke abou the methodology to specify the earthquakes, and he also displayed the microseismic measurement network which perceives the immediate and wider environment of the Paks site’s seismic events. At the end of his presentation he highlighted that the actual data of the earth movement can be found on Moreover on the Paks side on 2 sections a 2 meters deep research ditch was established: one was 12 meters long, while the other one was 84 meters. The excavated layers were inspected and a high resolution photo documentation was made of them.

The deepening and on-site investigation of the research ditches was done between 22 July and 8 August, the reconstruction of the area is already finished since then. The further investigation and assessment of the results is still in progress.

(the data of those measurement network can be also seen here which sensed the Indonesian earthquake in early March). Dr. László Nagy spoke about geotechnical features, while Gyula Mező presented a hydrogeological study and a hydrodynamic analysis. Zita Bihari, head of department of the National Meteorological Service held a presentation of the meteorological conditions and dangers. She also spoke about climate analysis, research of the micro and mezo climate, and climate modelling. In Dr. István Galambos’ hydrologic characterization the interested could learn about the high and low water, the water temperature and investigation of the exceptional cases. István Kelemen’s lecture was about the anthropogenic and technogenic dangers. Following the professional lectures the conference was ended by answering the questions.

The excavated layers are clearly visible
 The excavated layers were inspected by experts
 The deepening of the 84 meters long trench is in progress
 Project leader Miklós Horváth briefs Dr. Attila Aszódi government commissioner and the directors and colleagues of Paks II. on-site about the fieldwork

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The photos of the fieldwork can be found below.