Lead

Rosatom's chief executive, Alexey Likhachev, has said the Russian state nuclear corporation is fully prepared to explain and defend the economic basis of the Paks-2 nuclear power plant expansion in Hungary, responding to signals from Budapest that it may revisit the project's terms. The comments, made in several recent statements reported by the Russian news agency TASS, reflect Moscow's confidence in the project despite potential scrutiny from Hungary's incoming government.

Coverage Comparison

All reported statements attributed to Likhachev come from TASS, the Russian state news agency, which covered his remarks at multiple events between April and May. The coverage shows a consistent theme: Rosatom is unworried by any Hungarian attempt to re-examine the project's price or other parameters, and says the project is backed by solid professional groundwork.

According to TASS, Likhachev told the sectoral publication Strana Rosatom that the company is "completely unconcerned about any attempts to revisit the economics of the Paks-2 project." He stressed that for Rosatom, the project's cost is not a political matter but "the result of professional calculations," adding that the firm is ready to justify and defend every figure in the estimate.

In separate remarks at a congress of the Russian Union of Mechanical Engineers, Likhachev emphasized that the Paks-2 project is "well-substantiated in terms of cost, technical specifications, and implementation stages." He noted that Rosatom itself is interested in an audit of the construction site, as delays or changes from the customer can both extend timelines and raise costs—a dynamic he described as "an objective law governing any major infrastructure project."

Key Claims

The following claims have been reported by TASS based on statements by Rosatom's CEO:

  • Rosatom is ready to answer any questions from Hungary's new government about Paks-2, including its price and technical parameters.
  • The Paks-2 project has been implemented "according to international standards" and under "full IAEA oversight," according to Likhachev.
  • Rosatom hopes to accelerate construction of the Paks expansion under Hungary's new government, with the first concrete poured in February and the foundation slab for the first new unit expected to be completed this year.
  • Separately, Likhachev said Rosatom is ready to participate in various formats of construction of gigawatt-scale nuclear power units in Slovakia, which he noted already gets around 60% of its electricity from nuclear power.
  • TASS also reported Likhachev as saying that Ukraine resumed shelling the Zaporozhye nuclear power station after the Easter truce, and that a new IAEA mission was heading to the plant. These claims are carried solely by TASS and have not been independently verified.
  • Additionally, Likhachev mentioned that twenty Rosatom employees remain at the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran, and that Rosatom and Egypt discussed plans for the El Dabaa nuclear plant, with first fuel delivery expected in 2027.

Perspectives

Rosatom's position: The company projects confidence in Paks-2, stressing its technical and economic rationality, and frames any Hungarian review as a normal part of professional dialogue. Likhachev repeatedly emphasizes the project's benefits for Hungary, including energy security and export potential, and suggests that delays could increase costs.

Hungarian government signals: While this report does not include direct statements from Hungarian officials, Likhachev's responses imply that Budapest has expressed some criticism regarding the project's price. He noted that the new authorities have already talked about the project "a little critically," suggesting a possible review is forthcoming.

International oversight: The project is presented as being conducted under IAEA oversight and in cooperation with international and European suppliers, which Likhachev argues underscores its objectivity and transparency.