During the ministerial panel discussion held on the opening day of the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE) on 4 November 2025, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade emphasized that Hungary, as a country without a coastline or significant oil or gas fields, can only meet its exponentially increasing electricity demand in the coming years safely, reliably, in an environmentally friendly way, and at low cost through nuclear energy. To achieve this, Hungary is working on further extending the operating lifetime of existing reactors and constructing two new units with a total capacity of 2400 megawatts. 

Speaking about the Paks II project, Mr. Szijjártó stated that two million cubic meters of soil have been already excavated, and 43000 cement columns have been placed in the ground as part of soil improvement. Thirty buildings have been completed in the construction and erection base, nearly fifty are under construction, and long-lead items are being manufactured in six countries – including France. – The first concrete pouring will take place in early February. After that, Paks II will be considered a nuclear power plant under construction according to the standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency – he emphasized.
The minister pointed out that Hungary is dependent on energy imports, which we aim to reduce, and therefore must increase nuclear capacity as much as possible. – We adhere to the principle that the composition of the national energy mix is a national matter – the minister stated. Polish Industry Minister Wojciech Wrochna also emphasized in his speech that energy sovereignty is of utmost importance, and decisions regarding the energy mix and the construction of nuclear power plants should remain within the competence of member states. At the event, French Minister Roland Lescure, responsible for economy, finance and industrial and energy sovereignty, referred to the Paks investment as the most advanced project.
More than a thousand companies from over eighty countries are gathering at the WNE. Hungary is participating for the first time with a pavilion organized by HEPA (Hungarian Export Promotion Agency), where seven Hungarian companies, including Paks II Ltd., are presenting themselves. – The Hungarian nuclear industry is internationally competitive. We Hungarians are committed to sharing nuclear knowledge and wish to contribute to the global development of nuclear technology – said Péter Szijjártó at the opening of the pavilion.
The international expo allows companies in the industry to present their expertise and innovations, from reactor development to radioactive waste management and new applications of nuclear energy. It also serves as a platform for dialogue among members of the sector, where they can deepen cooperation and discover new export opportunities.