|
|
|
Hungary
|
|
Number of nuclear units |
Nuclear electricity generation |
Nuclear percentage of total |
Hungary |
4 |
13.8 |
37.2 |
OECD Europe |
145 |
879.6 |
25.8 |
OECD TOTAL |
346 |
2278.1 |
23.1 |
Source: Nuclear Energy Data 2008. The complete table for all OECD member countries is also available.
The Paks Nuclear Power Plant generated 14676.9 GWh (gross) in 2007 providing 36.8 % of the Hungarian total gross electricity production. This amount was generated by four units as follows: Unit 1: 3388.4 GWh; Unit 2: 3632.9 GWh; Unit 3: 3597.4 GWh; Unit 4: 4058.2 GWh. The four units achieved a load factor ranging from 82.3% to 92.7% in 2007.
Considering the production value, the year of 2007 was an outstanding one since the highest production value was reached in the history of the plant. It should be noted that 2007 would have been a top year (with its expected production value of 14282 GWh), even without the uprating of two units. Since the date of the first connection to the grid of Unit 1, the quantity of all electricity produced by the Paks NPP exceeded 305 TWh by the end of 2007.
Table 1. Status of nuclear power plants
Station |
Type |
Net Capacity |
Operator |
Status |
Reactor Supplier |
Construction Date |
Criticality Date |
Grid Date |
Commercial |
Shutdown |
PAKS-1 |
WWER |
470 |
PAKS ZRT. |
Operational |
AEE |
01-Aug-74 |
14-Dec-82 |
28-Dec-82 |
10-Aug-83 |
|
PAKS-2 |
WWER |
443 |
PAKS ZRT. |
Operational |
AEE |
01-Aug-74 |
26-Aug-84 |
06-Sept-84 |
14-Nov-84 |
|
PAKS-3 |
WWER |
433 |
PAKS ZRT. |
Operational |
AEE |
01-Oct-79 |
15-Sept-86 |
28-Sept-86 |
01-Dec-86 |
|
PAKS-4 |
WWER |
473 |
PAKS ZRT. |
Operational |
AEE |
01-Oct-79 |
09-Aug-87 |
16-Aug-87 |
01-Nov-87 |
|
The reform of the electricity industry commenced in 1994-95, when Act No. XLVIII of 1994 on the Production, Transportation and Supply of Electricity was formulated and came into effect. The Hungarian Energy Office was established in 1994. The privatisation of the electricity sector took place in several phases. In 2007, the majority of power stations and 100% of the electricity suppliers (today called network and service provider companies as a result of privatisation) are privately owned.
In Hungary the electricity policy is an integrated part of the energy policy. The most important document on which the Hungarian electricity market liberalisation was based was the Principles of Hungarian Energy Policy and a New Business Model. It was adopted by the government in 1999 (Government Resolution No. 2199/1999).
Hungary became a member state of the European Union on 1 May 2004. These events necessitated further harmonising the Hungarian legal framework to the EU law. After two years of preparation the modification of the Act on Electricity CX. (2001) was passed by parliament in August 2005, followed by the Enforcement Decree and other secondary legislation. The harmonisation and the electricity policy objectives have reflected in the modified Act on Electricity. The Act retained the two parallel electricity markets, namely a market to supply non-eligible consumers and a competitive market to supply eligible consumers. Access to the electricity grid is guaranteed at regulated prices. Transmission, distribution and system operation tariffs are set and published by the Minister of Economy and Transport. New capacities are established on a commercial basis through an authorisation process.
Figure 1 shows the simplified model of the Hungarian electricity industry as stipulated by the modified Act.igure 1: Simplified model of the Hungarian electricity industry
The total installed capacity of the electricity industry was 8691 MW(e) at the end of 2006. The electric energy produced by Hungarian power plants was 40 000 GWh in 2007, 18.6% of which was produced in coal-fired plants, 39.7% in carbon-hydrogen (mainly gas) fired plants, 36.8% in nuclear plants and 4.9% from renewable sources.
Stakeholders in the energy administration
The mission of the Ministry of Economy and Transport (www.gkm.gov.hu) is to promote the formation of an innovative, knowledge-based, fast-growing economy produces high added value and therefore is competitive both in the single European market and globally. Only by creating such an economy can Hungary realise rapid convergence to the developed EU countries. The ministry also plays a key role in Hungarian energy policy. The responsibility of the reliable, efficient and environment friendly energy supply for Hungary belongs to the Minister of Economy and Transport. Directly under the political top level the energy issues handled by the State Secretary for Infrastructure . The responsibility of this State Secretary covers energy, industry and environmental issues.
The Hungarian Energy Office (MEH) (www.eh.gov.hu) is currently responsible for licensing energy suppliers, supervising the satisfaction of consumer demand as well as the standards of service provision, and protecting consumer interests. In a liberalised electricity and gas market the MEH has become more autonomous and its duties and competences have increased. The MEH is a budgetary corporate body with separate and independent financial management. The MEH is self-financing. Licensees will be charged supervisory and administration fee for its activities. Following a proposal by the Ministry of Economy and Transport, the prime minister will appoint and disimiss the MEH president and vice-president. Their appointment is for a six-year term. MEH resolutions can only be challenged and amended in court.
Ministry of Environment and Water manages reduction of pollutants from the energy industry. The Ministry has main responsibility on climate change issues, including the EU ETS. The ministry is also dealing with some aspects of sustainable energy management (energy efficiency, energy saving and renewable issues). Its activity mainly concerns the energy sector through environmental (air-, water-quality, waste management, etc.) regulation. The ministry Environmental Policy Department integrates the environmental aspects into other policies, therefore the environmental protection is an integral part of sustainable energy policies.
Industry structureIn the last decade, Hungary made substantial progress in restructuring its electricity sector and creating a market-oriented fully EU conform regulatory framework. Today, the power industry is restructured and mainly privatised. Its prices cover costs.
The Hungarian Power Companies Ltd. (MVM Zrt.) (www.mvm.hu) plays a decisive role in the secure and reliable electricity supply of Hungary. MVM Zrt. together with the group it controls constitutes the most significant domestic group of companies under national ownership. The members of the group are well-known actors in the Hungarian electricity sector. MVM Zrt. is primarily responsible for the public utility wholesale of electricity with a turnover covering around three quarters of wholesale domestic power. The transmission activity of MVM Zrt. is the other key factor in the domestic power supply. On high-voltage transmission lines the company transmits the electric power obtained from domestic power plants and from imported resources to distributors, who sell it directly to consumers. The MVM Group plays an active part in power generation as well. It is primary shareholder in the the Paks Nuclear Power Plant that has a large share of domestic power generation and therefore, in ensuring a favourable price for electric energy. In 2005 the still indirectly (through MVM) state-owned Independent MAVIR Rt. merged with MVM Rt. In consequence of the governmental Decree (246/2005(XI.10)) on the execution of the former Electricity Act (CX. 2001), the activities and responsibilities of MAVIR have became much wider. Until the end of 2005 MAVIR ZRt. held the System Operation licence from the beginning of 2006 MAVIR ZRt. has received a licence for transmission as well.
Electricity generation licensees
Hungarian Power Companies Ltd. (MVM Zrt.) www.mvm.hu
System operation licensee
Magyar Villamosenergia-ipari Rendszerirányító Rt. (MAVIR Zrt.) www.mavir.hu
Distribution and public service supply licenseesThere are six privatised regional distribution companies responsible for operation of networks with voltage 120 kV and below as well as supply for the customers.
According to the legislation in force, the approval of the government or parliament is needed for the establishment of power plants above a capacity of 200 MW. Between 200 and 600 MW capacity, it is up to the government to give approval, while above 600 MW capacity, parliamentary approval is necessary. Nuclear power plants have to be approved by parliament independent of their capacity.
There are no nuclear power plant suppliers in Hungary, the main components of the Paks nuclear power plant were made abroad (in Russia and the Czech Republic). The main constructor was AEE (Atomenergoexport) and the main architect ERBE-EROTERV (Hungary).
The main component suppliers are:
The manufacture of many components of the Russian-designed WWERs was done in the former COMECON countries under a multilateral agreement.
The Paks nuclear power plant is owned by Hungarian Power Companies Ltd. Operation and maintenance is performed by the Paks Nuclear Power Ltd. (PA Zrt.). For the training of staff, the Paks nuclear power plant has a full-scope simulator at an on-site training centre. The Maintenance Training Centre with real mock-ups originated from the never-built VVER type Polish NPP is used for training of maintenance staff.
The four units of Paks nuclear power plant are all equipped with engineered safety systems, similar to the Western PWRs of the same vintage, including confinement of special pressure suppression system. Due to the conservative design, there are several safety merits of these reactors, proven by the outstanding operational records of the plant.
In order to enhance its economic and operational effectiveness and to improve its market position, the Paks Nuclear Power Plant commenced an Economical Effectiveness Enhancement Programme (EEEP) in 2005, principal elements of which are as follows: power uprating, maintenance optimisation, operating lifetime extension.
According to the schedule of the power uprating programme the uprating of Unit 1 was performed in 2007. (Unit 4 was already uprated in 2006). During the annual outage of Unit 1 the specialists performed the required modifications according to the licence issued by the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. After the outage the power of Unit 1 was increased step by step and it reached the licensed value of 108 % on 19 July. Thus the nominal electric capacity of Unit 1 reached 500 MWe. All four units will be uprated by the end of 2009.
Preparation of the lifetime extension (licence renewal) programme continued in 2007, the main steps of which were as follows: elaboration and foundation of the conditions of the operation for further 20 years beyond the planned lifetime of the units of Paks NPP; foundation of the operating licence for the extended period and technical preparation of the licensing procedure.
Based on the Environmental Impact Study (EIS) the South-Transdanubian Inspectorate for Environment, Nature and Water issued the environmental licence for extended operation of the units of Paks NPP beyond the originally planned operating lifetime in October 2006. Due to an appeal it was reconfirmed by the authority of second instance at the beginning of 2007.
As a result of the Periodical Safety Review the Periodical Safety Report (PSR) and the Final Safety Report (FSR) of the Paks NPP have been updated after several years of preparation.
Hungary has 20,000 metric tons of exploitable uranium resources and 10,000 metric tons of additional reserves. There are three areas in Hungary where uranium occurrences are known, but only one region in Mecsek Mountains has been exploited. Hungary mined uranium ore, which was processed to yellowcake at Mecsek and then shipped to Russia. Fuel cycle services were guaranteed by the former USSR when Hungary purchased Soviet reactors. The arrangement included the fabrication of fuel assemblies, the shipping of the fabricated fuel assemblies to Hungary and the return of spent fuel to the former USSR. Hungary does not have other fuel cycle capabilities such as fuel conversion, enrichment, and fabrication.
There are no reprocessing capabilities in Hungary and no plans to develop any. Hungarian spent fuel has been reprocessed in Russia and the recovered plutonium does not have to be returned to Hungary. Hungary has at present no plans for recycling plutonium as fuel.
A new fuel management strategy was initiated in 1993 and completed in 1995. The strategy includes the creation of the conditions for purchasing nuclear fuel from a second supplier and the preparatory work for the use of a new type of Russian fuel assembly with profiled enrichment to allow changeover to 4 year's fuel cycle. The first Russian-produced profiled fuel, with a mean enrichment of 3.82%, was loaded into Unit 3 during 2000.
According to the Hungarian-Soviet Inter-Governmental Agreement on Co-operation in the Construction of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant, concluded on 28 December 1966, and the Protocol concluded on 1 April 1994 attached to this Agreement, the Soviet and/or Russian party undertakes to accept spent fuel assemblies from the Paks Nuclear Power Plant in such a manner that the radioactive waste and other by-products arising from the reprocessing of such fuel are not returned to Hungary. Until 1992 the return of the spent fuel assemblies was conducted without problems, under conditions which were very favourable for Hungary, but which nevertheless deviated from normal international practice. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union however, this method of returning spent fuel became less and less reliable. For this reason and in the interests of ensuring the undisturbed operation of the nuclear power plant, it became necessary to find an interim solution (50 years) for the storage of spent fuel assemblies.
The Hungarian Atomic Energy Commission issued a licence on 4 February 1995 to Hungarian Power Companies Ltd. for the construction of a spent fuel interim dry storage facility at the Paks site. The GEC Alsthom's modular dry storage technology was chosen. The facility is designed to store spent fuel for 50 years and was commissioned in 1996. The advantage of the modular system is that the modules can be built at different times and handled separately from each other. The first section of the Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility, consisting of three modules, was put into operation in 1997. Expansion of the facility is going on in accordance with the increasing needs of the Paks NPP: by the end of 2007 5107 fuel assemblies had been placed in interim storage.
As yet, there is no decision on the back-end of the fuel cycle, but - in order to calculate the future costs of radioactive waste and spent fuel management, as well as to assure the necessary funding - some assumptions need to be made. As a reference scenario, the postulation of direct disposal of the spent fuel assemblies in Hungary was accepted.
It is obvious that in the foreseeable future a strategy for the back-end of the fuel cycle should be elaborated. In the course of the elaboration of the strategy it is worthwhile to examine various possibilities, including the shipment of spent fuel abroad. In principle, the latter is a possible option due to the above mentioned Agreement and Additional Protocol, as well as a protocol on conditions concerning the reshipment to the Russian Federation of Russian-made spent fuel assemblies signed on 29 April 2004.
The basic regulation in force at present, the Act CXVI of 1996 on Atomic Energy, expresses Hungary's national policy in the application of atomic energy. Among other aspects, it regulates the management of radioactive waste and authorises the government and the competent ministers to issue executive orders specifying the most important requirements in this field. The Hungarian parliament approved the present Act on Atomic Energy in December 1996; the Act entered into force on 1 June 1997. For radioactive waste repositories the Act prescribes that parliament's preliminary approval in principle is required to initiate activities to prepare the establishment of radioactive waste repositories.
In accordance with the basic rules laid down in the Act, radioactive waste management must not impose any undue burden on future generations. To satisfy this requirement, the long-term costs of waste disposal and of decommissioning of the nuclear power plant will be paid by the generations that enjoy the benefits of nuclear energy production and applications of isotopes. Accordingly, by the Act and its executive orders, a Central Nuclear Financial Fund was established on 1 January 1998 to finance radioactive waste disposal, interim storage and disposal of spent fuel, as well as the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. The government authorised the Director-General of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority to establish the Public Agency for Radioactive Waste Management; this agency has been in operation since 2 June 1998.
On the basis of the Act, the Public Agency for Radioactive Waste Management shall design and carry out radioactive waste management in such a way that
In the field of radioactive waste management the following projects are ongoing:
a) Disposal of high level and long lived radioactive waste
In 1995 Hungary launched a programme to solve the problems of disposal of high level and long-lived radioactive waste as well as of spent fuels. The preliminary results of the investigations confirmed that the clay stone formation (Boda Aleurolite Formation) found in the area of the Mecsek Hill in southwest Hungary is potentially suitable for a high level waste repository. Now explorations have been going on in order to select a site for an underground laboratory to be used for further in-situ investigation of the rock. Due to budgetary constraints the project has been scaled back in the past few years, with only the monitoring activity is now being maintained.
b) Disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive waste from the Paks NPP
For the disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive waste from the Paks NPP following a countrywide screening and ensuring public acceptance explorations have been carried out in the vicinity of Bátaapáti (about 45 km south-west of Paks). Reflecting the results of the extensive research work carried out, the Hungarian Geological Survey declared the site as geologically suitable for housing a repository. In November 2005, Hungarian Parliament, by its resolution 85/2005. (XI. 23.) OGY, gave its preliminary approval in principle (a formal requirement in accordance with the Act on Atomic Energy).
The fact that at the vote on the joint resolution about the life-extension of the Paks NPP and the waste repository 96.6 % of the lawmakers voted in favour, clearly shows that in these questions there is a broad political consensus in Hungary. Prior to the parliamentary vote Bátaapáti residents voted 91% in favour of having the repository in a local referendum.
In 2005, after a decade of siting procedures, the preparation of two inclined shafts was started on the outskirts of Bátaapáti village (Tolna County) to facilitate further underground research activities, as well as to provide access tunnels to future disposal chambers. According to the licensing documentation for construction that was handed to the competent authority in November 2007, the facility will be constructed at a depth of 150-200 metres below the surface, at the level of Baltic Sea. A chamber-type arrangement of disposal area is planned to be built that will be accessible from the two inclined shafts. In the first phase four chambers will be constructed. Later, further chambers will be added which enables the disposal of approximately 40000 m3 waste in the repository arising not only from the operation but also from the future decommissioning of Paks NPP.
c) Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility at Püspökszilágy
The Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility, a near-surface repository for institutional low and intermediate level radioactive wastes, was commissioned in 1976. The disposal capacity is 5040 m3, and by the end of 2004 the repository was full. However, according to long-term plans, the repository is expected to be in operation for additional decades, receiving radioactive waste from the small-scale producers of the country. To this end , measures are to be taken to provide additional disposal capacity within the site. The removal of certain long-lived and high activity spent sources from the vaults within the framework of the safety enhancement programme provides a good opportunity to achieve this goal.
A recent achievement in the facility is the conversion of the existing treatment building into a centralised interim store that can serve as a buffer storage' until new disposal capacity is available in the repository. The renovated building is also designed and licensed for the interim storage of long lived radioactive waste, sealed sources, until a high level waste repository will be available.
For additional information on the Hungarian radioactive waste management programme, please consult the website of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (www.haea.gov.hu).
Research and developmentThe legal framework for the implementation of R&D programme is established by the Act on Atomic Energy (Act CXVI of 1996 on Atomic Energy), according to which the technical support activities needed for improving the safety of the peaceful application of nuclear energy shall be financed via the HAEA. Thus it is the responsibility of the HAEA to manage the scientific and technical support for nuclear safety regulatory activities. For managing the quality of such a complex programme the HAEA defined its basic principles and requirements for performing technical support activities. The scientific and technical support is provided by a group of scientific and technical institutions and other engineering organisations (Technical Support Organisations TSO). As a rule, scientific and technical co-operation with partner TSOs (with a wide range of competency in nuclear facility operation and regulation) is based on a long term memorandum accepted and signed by both the HAEA and the partner TSOs. Up until now, there are several strategic partner TSOs, such as the KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute AEKI, the Nuclear Power Division of VEIKI Institute for Electric Power Research Co. and the Nuclear Technology Institute of Budapest University of Technology and Economics BME-NTI. The requested technical support from a TSO is described in a contract in which the deadline and the expected quality are further defined. In urgent regulatory matters, the strategic TSO partners provide technical support quickly and flexibly on a no-charge basis. The system of TSOs ensures that the HAEA has appropriate engineering and scientific reserve capacities to handle situations, which need quick and technically correct decisions.
To efficiently harmonise TSO co-operation, the HAEA has elaborated a mid-term R&D concept which is regularly updated. The R&D concept assigns the main goals, the area of the support programme and the most important requirements for competencies of contractors.
Areas of R&D activities change time over time as new safety upgrading measures and operational modifications arise with licensees. Age-dependent and decommissioning-related tasks arise and the nuclear safety regulations have to be upgraded periodically. The most important R&D areas are:
Collection of data about the knowledge and competencies of TSOs was started in 2005 and 18 institutions have now been surveyed about their competencies and co-operation affinity in 10 main areas of regulatory interest divided into 48 specific sub areas. As a result, it was concluded that in Hungary all major scientific and technical areas important for nuclear safety were covered by research or technical institutions and in every one of the 48 sub areas of regulatory importance there were at least two independent experts.
In 2007, the Hungarian research organisations continued the necessary analytical activities related to the Paks NPP lifetime extension. The analysis of PTS events and of low cycle fatigue of primary circuit components are the most complicated tasks. The power uprate steps were closely followed and analysed by the research organisations.
The introduction of burnable absorbers will be the next important modification at Paks NPP. This will compensate for the increased fuel cycle costs of cores with uprated power. The R&D background necessary to apply burnable absorbers is fully available in Hungary, however, appropriate core monitoring still requires research work. This research work is based on detailed measurements of flow mixing and temperature distributions within the fuel assemblies.
After licensing the lifetime extension, Paks NPP is expected to be operated without major technical modifications. Consequently, the attention of research organisations will be attracted by other nuclear systems. The Generation IV SCWR (more precisely, its European version, the HPLWR) is currently studied in Hungary in the framework of a nationally financed project which gives a good background for participating in an EU project with a similar aim and in several bilateral co-operative projects. There are further expectations concerning the Hungarian participation in joint EU nuclear efforts if the Technology Platform on Sustainable Nuclear Energy will be launched. The decision on constructing ITER also attracts scientists to deal with various aspects of fusion technology rather than restricting themselves to plasma physics. Obviously, the R&D goals will be revised as ideas on constructing new nuclear units in Hungary mature.
International co-operation and initiativesIn Hungary both the licensee and the authority maintain wide-ranging relations with various international organisations, with other countries and institutions involved in the design, manufacture, installation and operation of nuclear facilities and research institutes.
These relations serve as means of exchanging knowledge and experience. The fact that Hungarian experts are held internationally in high esteem is demonstrated by their active role on different committees, with many of them being board members of international organisations or invited as experts.
Hungary is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (since 1957) and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (since 1996).
Hungary has bilateral governmental agreements with Australia, Austria, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Romania, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Ukraine, and United States of America.
There are agreements on mutual information exchange between the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority and other regulatory bodies including Canada, the Czech Republic, France, Romania, Russia, the Slovak Republic, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
Regional programmes organised by the EU and the International Atomic Energy Agency play an important role in the co-operation between the regulatory bodies of the neighbouring countries. Moreover, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority ( HAEA) is taking part in a quadrilateral co-operation among the new EU member states including Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and Slovenia.
The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority takes part in several international co-operations including
The HAEA also takes part in the work of the Zangger Committee (dealing with controlling the export of nuclear materials), and that of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) (dealing with controlling the export of nuclear materials for dual use).
The Paks Nuclear Power Plant is member of several international bodies of major importance including the World Association of Nuclear Power Plant Operators (WANO), the WWER-440 operators' club, the WWER users' group, the International Nuclear Safety programme (the "Lisbon Initiative") and the Nuclear Maintenance Experience Exchange (NUMEX).
The Hungarian Nuclear Society is a member of the European Nuclear Society (ENS), and the Health Physics Section of the Roland Eötvös Physical Society is a member of the International Radiation Protection Association.
The technical support organisations of the HAEA take part in the activities of the working groups of the NEA.
The first Hungarian reactor was built for research purposes at Csillebérc on the outskirts of Budapest in 1959. The reactor, of Soviet origin and refurbished by Hungarian experts after 30 years of operation, was put into operation again by the Nuclear Energy Research Institute in 1993. The Budapest Research Reactor is a tank type reactor with 10 MW th power.
The Nuclear Training Reactor of the Institute of Nuclear Techniques (INT) of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics began operation in 1971. Since then it has been used for educational purposes in the nuclear field. It is a pool type reactor with 100 kW th power.
In 1966, it was decided to construct a nuclear power plant in Hungary. The decision foresaw two WWER-440 type, 230 model reactors. Construction work started in 1968, but was interrupted in 1970 because, at that time, the oil-fired stations were considered to be more economic. Actual construction started after the oil crisis in 1975. The final decision included four second generation reactors, i.e. WWERs-440/213, instead of the two 230 model reactors, all to be part of one nuclear power plant. The plant is located about five km south of the town Paks, on the right bank of the river Danube. Since 1987, these four reactors have been providing electricity to the Hungarian electric energy grid. The installed capacity of each reactor was 440 MW(e). As a result of modifications, the electrical output has been increased by about 20 MW(e) at the same nominal thermal capacity for each reactor. The power uprating programme started in 2006 and to be finished in 2009 will increase the capacity of the reactors to 500 MW each.
Hungary's national policy concerning the application of atomic energy is regulated by law. The basic purposes of Act CXVI of 1996 are those of protecting the health and safety of the population and protecting the environment. The requirements of the Act state that the use of atomic energy is allowed only in a manner provisioned by law and under the permanent control of the competent authority. Regardless of what aspect of atomic energy is being considered, safety enjoys the highest priority.
Licensees
Paks Nuclear Power Plant Ltd. (www.npp.hu) (It has four WWERs-440/213 type power reactors.)
Public Agency for Radioactive Waste Management (www.rhk.hu) operates the Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility at Paks.
KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute (www.kfki.hu) operates the Budapest Research Reactor.
Institute of Nuclear Techniques of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (www.reak.bme.hu/nti/) operates the BME Training Reactor.
Governmental organisations with responsibility in nuclear field
The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) (www.haea.gov.hu) plays a central role in the regulation of the use of nuclear energy in Hungary. Pursuant to the Act on Atomic Energy, it regulates certain activities (in particular, the licensing of nuclear facilities) and co-ordinates or accomplishes the regulatory tasks and the related information activities in connection with the safe operation of nuclear energy, the safety of nuclear materials and facilities, as well as nuclear emergency preparedness. The HAEA is also required to monitor international trends in the field of nuclear energy and make proposals to the government for corresponding domestic measures. Within its area of competence, the HAEA monitors the enforcement of regulations related to the use of nuclear energy and based on its findings initiates actions and makes proposals for amendment of the applicable legislation or draws up new draft legislation. The HAEA is directed by the government, supervised by a minister appointed by the Prime Minister. Today the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority is under the supervision of the Minister of Justice and Law Enforcement. In dealing with administrative matters within the competence of the HAEA, the various independent units of the HAEA function as responsible authorities. In the government Act CIX, the reorganisation of the government structure the HAEA is listed among the Government offices.
The Ministry of Health undertakes the tasks of the authority regarding issues related to radiological protection and concerning the facility-level licensing and supervision of the storage of radioactive wastes. Other competent administrative bodies take part as special authorities in the licensing procedure of the Ministry of Health.
Ministry for Local Government and Regional Development and the Minister for Justice and Law EnforcementThe Minister for Local Government and Regional Development and the Minister for Justice and Law Enforcement, through the offices of the National Police Force and the Directorate General for National Emergency Management (including the Fire Protection and Civil Defence Service), enforces those licensing aspects of nuclear facilities, nuclear equipment, radioactive materials and radioactive waste disposal facilities relating to public and domestic order, fire protection, physical protection, security, civil defence and nuclear emergency management.
Ministry for Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentThe Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, through the offices of the Animal Health and Food Control Stations, enforces those licensing aspects of nuclear facilities, nuclear equipment, radioactive materials and radioactive waste disposal facilities associated with the use of nuclear energy relating to food, plant and animal hygiene, as well as soil protection.
Ministry for Economy and TransportThe Minister for Economy and Transport is responsible for the inspection of radioactivity of raw materials used or imported for the production of building materials and for regulating in accordance with the provisions laid down in international transport agreements.
Ministry of Environment Protection and Water ManagementThe Minister is generally responsible for the regulation and inspection of the radioactive contamination of the air, land and water environment.
Ministry for DefenceThe Minister for Defence, as detailed in separate regulations, is responsible in defence matters for the control of handling of radioactive materials, as well as for the construction, operation and closing down of military facilities and equipment. In respect of the Hungarian Army, the Medical Officer Service of the Army performs the same tasks handled by the Minister for Health in the civilian context, other than in respect of radioactive waste disposal facilities or the central collection and processing of data relating to a national radiation situation.
Ministry for EducationThe Minister for Education is responsible for integrating into the National Master Curriculum the requirement to provide education on the scientific, technical and radiological protection aspects of the use of nuclear energy. The minister also regulates higher and postgraduate education in the field of the application of nuclear energy in co-operation with the relevant professional institutions and ministers.
Under the Act on Atomic Energy as amended, the government provides for the execution of the governmental tasks described in this Act through the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) and the Ministers concerned, whose work is co-ordinated by the Atomic Energy Co-ordination Council.
Governmental Co-ordination CommitteeThe Governmental Co-ordination Committee, responsible for emergency management, is headed by the Minister for Local Government and Regional Development; his deputy in the event of nuclear emergencies is the Director General of the HAEA. The committee consists of high-ranking representatives of the ministries and national organisations involved in the particular catastrophe. Two sub-committees of the governmental Co-ordination Committee the National Defence Committee and the Operational Staff serve as vehicles to assist decision-making in the event of a nuclear emergency. These sub-committees include expert representatives of the ministries and national organisations involved in nuclear emergencies among their members.
The Directorate General for National Emergency Management manages a Nuclear Emergency Information Centre which is also responsible for decision-making, together with the National Environmental Radiation Monitoring System and the Centre of Emergency Response, Training and Analysis of the HAEA. The HAEA also serves as the international contact point.
The KFKI Atomic Energy Research Institute (KFKI AERI, Budapest) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences operates the 10 MW Budapest Research Reactor. This institute is active in several fields of nuclear technology such as reactor physics, thermal-hydraulics, health physics, simulator techniques and reactor chemistry. (www.kfki.hu/~aekihp/).
The Institute of Nuclear Techniques of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME NTI) operates a training reactor (pool type, 100 kWth), runs courses for engineers, physicists, chemists and environmentalists, and does research in a number of specialised fields. (www.reak.bme.hu)
The Institute of Nuclear Research (ATOMKI, Debrecen) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences operates a 20 MV cyclotron and a 5 MV Van de Graaff accelerator; this institute is active in several fields of nuclear physics and nuclear techniques. (www.atomki.hu)
The "Frédéric Joliot Curie" National Research Institute for Radiobiology and Radiohygiene (OSSKI, Budapest) performs a wide spectrum of research that includes the biological effects of radiation and radioisotopes, radiohygiene (operational and environmental), sterilisation, detoxification etc. (www.osski.hu)
The Institute for Electric Power Research (VEIKI, Budapest) deals with many fields, including safety analysis of nuclear power plants, PSA and severe accidents, and noise analysis. (www.veiki.hu)
The Power Engineering and Contractor Co. (ETV-EROTERV Co., Budapest) is concerned with the design, construction, commissioning and operating management of nuclear facilities. Its activities also include waste management (treatment, storage and disposal. (www.etv.hu)
The Institute of Isotopes (MTA IKI) of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences performs a wide range of research related to the use of radioactive materials and nuclear techniques, among them a research and development programme for nuclear safeguards. MTA IKI provides the expertise and the laboratory backgrounds for the HAEA. (www.iki.kfki.hu)
Before 1991, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Commission (HAEC) managed most of the nuclear aspects, which were related to international relations, preparation for legislation, internal relations, and nuclear regulatory and licensing activities. The scope of activities and responsibilities of the HAEC were redefined in a government decree, which came into force on 1 January 1991. The Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) was established under the supervision of the President of the HAEC. The revised Act on Atomic Energy adopted at the end of 1996 (Act CXVI of 1996 on Atomic Energy) and its Decrees on Implementation introduced further changes in the scope of authority and organisational structure of the national regulatory bodies related to nuclear safety.
Owing to the above-mentioned changes in competence, the licensing of nuclear facilities became the responsibility of HAEA. In addition, the regulatory control over certain constructional, technical radiological protection and nuclear accident prevention issues was also transferred into the scope of authority of the HAEA.
Hungary's accession to the European Union required a further strengthening of the regulatory bodies' independence. To this end, parliament amended the Act on Atomic Energy in 2003. Pursuant to this amendment, operation of the HAEC was discontinued and one of the government ministers appointed by the Prime Minister currently the Minister of Justice and Law Enforcement - was given the task of supervising the HAEA.
The Government Decree No. 114/2003 on the Scope of Duties, Authority and Competence to Impose Penalties of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, and on the Activities of the Atomic Energy Co-ordination Council, adopted in 2003, implements the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act, defining the statutes of the HAEA and the Atomic Energy Co-ordination Council, and provides HAEA with regulatory independence. The main function of HAEA is to co-ordinate and fulfil regulatory duties with respect to the safety of the peaceful use of atomic energy. The HAEA is entitled to conduct inspections at the installation of any user of atomic energy and is responsible for the management of the Central Nuclear Financial Fund. The HAEA is also empowered to fine any licensee for violation of legal regulations or safety rules or for any failure to comply with the provisions laid down in the licence. The HAEA Director-General prepares an annual report on the safe use of atomic energy for government and pParliament in co-operation with the relevant ministries and other competent central state organisations.
Act CIX of 2006 on the reorganisation of the governmental structure abolished the two-level appellate system with regard to the procedures of the HAEA and opened the way to judicial revision against first instance resolutions.
The HAEA is assisted by the Scientific Council, composed of 12 nationally reputed atomic energy experts. The Scientific Council conveys its opinion on nuclear safety, radiological protection, emergency response and preparedness for nuclear accidents.
An Emergency Response Organisation has also been set up and operated by the HAEA. This organisation carries out duties relating to emergency preparedness and response to nuclear accidents. In 1997 the HAEA established a multi-purpose Centre for Emergency Response, Training and Analysis equipped with hardware and software tools for independent analysis of abnormal events and accidents, giving estimations on the duration of incidents, and the possible escalation of the consequences of accident scenarios (by calculating source term), and by predicting environmental effects and proposing appropriate interventions. The centre also serves for the training of regulatory staff members using simulators and provides them with Probabilistic Safety Assessment based tools to assist in their everyday decision-making work.
The Government Decree No. 89/2005 on the Procedures of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority in Nuclear Safety Regulatory Matters, which repeals and replaces Government Decree No. 108/1997 as of June 2005, redefines the responsibilities of the Nuclear Safety Directorate of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. This decree was substantially revised after lengthy negotiations to incorporate the most recent IAEA Safety Standards and to incorporate the findings of the IAEA Safety Review Mission.
The principal modifications are as follows:
The HAEA General Nuclear Directorate, through its Department of Nuclear and Radioactive Materials, runs the State System of Accountancy and Control of Nuclear Materials and the Central Registry of radioactive materials from their production to their disposal as radioactive waste, and licensing of nuclear exports and imports, licensing of the transport of radioactive materials.
The administrative duty of the nuclear safety authority comprises two types of tasks. On the one hand, the authority shall perform the relevant regulatory tasks and issue standards and requirements, while on the other hand, these regulations and requirements must be enforced (it is realised during the implementation of the licensing and inspection/enforcement procedures).
The supervisory competence of the HAEA NSD involve the following activities: it enforces compliance with the provisions of relevant statutory regulations, ensures that the requirements of nuclear safety regulations are observed and the conditions serving as a basis for regulatory licenses are met, and in addition, it monitors the implementation of the measures imposed by the authority. The HAEA NSD also carries out analysis and assessment activities that are basically related to its licensing and inspection responsibilities. In some cases, the official licensing and inspection activity also entails the initiation of law enforcement measures. Enforcement activities comprise all the measures that compel the licensees to return to compliance with the regulations in the case of deviations, and also involve those that encourage participants to avoid repetition.
The latest amendment of the Act on Atomic Energy in 2005 (owing to the new general rules of the administrative regulatory procedures), introduced the continuous regulatory supervision as a new term. The supervision may be exercised through on-line computer systems connected to the authority office network. It gave the definition of clients in the licensing and permission cases. Furthermore, the deadlines of the administrative regulatory procedures were also modified for the HAEA and its co-authorities (60+30 days for equipment level licenses, 180+90 days for facility level licenses, 30+30 / 60+30 days for co-authorities). In case of imminent danger, accident or emergency situation in the nuclear facility, it also provides for deviations from the procedural rules.
Acts, Laws-decrees
Law-decree 12 of 1970 on the promulgation of the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons resolved by Session No. XXII. of the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation on the 12th of June in 1968
Law-decree 9 of 1972 on the promulgation of the agreement concluded between the Hungarian People's Republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the application of safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, signed in Vienna on the 6th of March in 1972
Law-decree 8 of 1987 on the promulgation of the convention on physical protection of nuclear materials
Act LIII of 1995 on the general rules for the protection of the environment
Act CXVI of 1996 on atomic energy
Act I of 1997 on the promulgation of the Convention on Nuclear Safety concluded in Vienna on the 20th of September in 1994 under the umbrella of the International Atomic Energy Authority
Act L of 1999 on the confirmation by the Republic of Hungary and on the promulgation of the Comprehensive Test-ban Treaty resolved by the General Assembly of the United Nations Organisation on the 10th of September in 1996
Act XC of 1999 on the confirmation and promulgation of the Additional Protocol signed in Vienna on the 26th of November in 1998 in connection with the agreement for the application of the safeguards concerning the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, concluded between the Republic of Hungary and the International Atomic Energy Agency and signed in Vienna on the 6th of March in 1972
Act of LXXIV of 1999 on Disaster management
Act LXXVI of 2001 on the promulgation of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management concluded under the International Atomic Energy Agency
Governmental Decrees, Decrees of the Council of Ministers
Decree of the Council of Ministers 28/1987. (VIII. 9.) on the promulgation of the convention on early notification of a nuclear accident signed in Vienna on the 26th of September in 1986
Decree of the Council of Ministers 29/1987. (VIII. 9.) on the promulgation of the convention on assistance in the case of a nuclear accident or radiological emergency, signed in Vienna on the 26th of September in 1986
Decree of the Council of Ministers 70/1987. (XII. 10.) on the promulgation of the agreement on regulation of mutually interesting questions relating to nuclear facilities concluded between the Government of the Hungarian People's Republic and the Government of the Austrian Republic, signed in Vienna on the 29th of April in 1987
Decree of the Council of Ministers 34/1988. (V. 6.) on the promulgation of the agreement on co-operation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy between the Government of Hungarian People's Republic and the Government of Canada signed on the 27th of November in 1987
Decree of the Council of Ministers 93/1989. (VIII. 22.) on the promulgation of the Reviewed Complementary Agreement on the technical assistance of the International Atomic Energy
Agency to Hungary concluded between the Government of the Hungarian People's Republic and the International Atomic Energy Agency, signed on the 12th of June in 1989
Decree of the Council of Ministers 24/1990. (II. 7.) on the promulgation of the international convention on civil liability for nuclear damage concluded in Vienna on the 21st of May in 1963
Governmental Decree 73/1991. (VI. 10.) on the promulgation of the agreement on regulation of mutually interesting questions relating to nuclear safety and radiological protection between the Government of the Republic of Hungary and the Government of the German Federal Republic, signed in Budapest on the 26th of September in 1990
Governmental Decree 108/1991. (VIII. 28.) on the promulgation of the agreement on mutual information and co-operation in the field of nuclear safety and radiological protection between the Government of the Republic of Hungary and the Government of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic, signed in Vienna on the 20th of September in 1990
Governmental Decree 116/1992. (VII. 23.) on the promulgation of the agreement on co-operation in the field of the peaceful use of nuclear energy concluded between the Government of the Republic of Hungary and the Government of the United States of America, signed in Vienna on the 10th of June in 1991
Governmental Decree 130/1992. (IX. 3.) on the promulgation of the joint record of the application of the Vienna Convention on civil liability for nuclear damage, and the application of the Paris Convention on the civil liability in the field of nuclear energy, signed on the 20th of September in 1989
Governmental Decree 17/1996. (I. 31.) on the actions in connection with the found or confiscated radioactive or nuclear materials
Governmental Decree 124/1997. (VII. 18.) on radioactive materials as well as equipment generating ionising radiation, exempted from the scope of the Atomic Energy Act CXVI of 1996.
Governmental Decree 185/1997. (X. 31.) on the promulgation of the agreement on the early notification in the case of radiological emergency concluded between the Government of the Republic of Hungary and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, signed in Budapest on the 11th of July in 1995
Governmental Decree 213/1997. (XII. 1.) on the exclusion zone of the nuclear installation and the spent fuel storage facility
Governmental Decree 227/1997. (XII. 10.) on the type, conditions and sum of the liability insurance or other liability financial coverage concerning atomic damage
Governmental Decree 240/1997. (XII. 18.) on the establishment of the organisation designated for implementing the disposal of radioactive waste and spent fuel, as well as decommissioning of nuclear installations, and on the financial source for performing tasks
Governmental Decree 248/1997. (XII. 20.) on the National Nuclear Emergency Response System
Governmental Decree 61/1998. (III. 31.) on the promulgation of the agreement on the early notification in the case of nuclear accidents concluded between the Government of the Republic of Hungary and the Government of Romania, signed in Bucharest on the 26th of May in 1997
Governmental Decree 108/1999. (VII. 7.) on the promulgation of the agreement on the early notification in the case of nuclear accidents, and on the mutual information and co-operation in the field of nuclear safety and radiological protection, concluded between the Government of the Republic of Hungary and the Government of Ukraine, signed in Budapest on the 12th of November in 1997
Governmental Decree 13/2000. (II. 11.) on the promulgation of the agreement on the early notification in the case of radiological accidents concluded between the Government of the Republic of Hungary and the Government of the Republic of Croatia, signed in Zagreb on the 11th of June in 1999
Governmental Decree 72/2000. (V. 19.) on the special conditions of acquiring the possession rights of certain materials, equipment and facilities belonging in the scope of application of atomic energy, as well as on the procedure for reporting their possession and operation
Governmental Decree 20/2001. (II. 14.) on the environmental impact assessment
Governmental Decree 136/2002. (VI. 24.) on the promulgation of the agreement on co-operation in the field of the peaceful use of atomic energy between the Government of the Republic of Hungary and the Government of Australia
Governmental Decree 275/2002. (XII. 21.) on the monitoring of radiation levels and radioactivity concentrations in Hungary
Governmental Decree 114/2003. (VII. 29.) on the duties, scope of authority and the jurisdiction of imposing penalties of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, and on the activity of the Atomic Energy Co-ordination Council
Governmental Decree 165/2003. (X. 18.) on the information to be provided to the public in nuclear and radiological emergencies
Governmental Decree 155/2004. (V. 14.) on the licensing of shipment of radioactive waste across the national border
Governmental Decree 244/2004.(VIII. 25.) on the promulgation of the protocol on conditions concerning the reshipment to the Russian Federation of Russian-made
(irradiated) spent fuel assemblies
Governmental Decree 263/2004. (IX. 23.) on the regulation of international trade of nuclear and nuclear dual-use items
Governmental Decree 89/2005. (V. 5.) on the nuclear safety requirements of nuclear facilities and the related regulatory activities
Ministerial Decrees
Decree of the Minister of Transportation and Post 20/1979. (IX. 18.) on the promulgation and inland application of Appendixes A and B of the European Agreement about the International Public Road Transportation of Dangerous Goods
Decree of the Minister of Construction and City planning 11/1984. (VIII. 1) on the rules for constructing nuclear facilities
Decree of the Minister of Transportation, Telecommunication and Water 13/1997. (IX. 3.) on the promulgation of the regulation on the safe railway transportation of spent nuclear fuel
Decree of the Minister of Transportation, Telecommunication and Water 14/1997. (IX. 3.)
on the transportation, shipment and packaging of radioactive materials
Decree of the Minister of Public Welfare 23/1997. (VII. 18.) on the exemption levels (activity-concentrations and activities) of radionuclides
Decree of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism 39/1997. (VII. 1.) on the system of accounting and the international control of nuclear materials and the jurisdiction of certain regulatory rights
Decree of the Minister of the Interior 47/1997. (VIII. 26.) on the tasks of the police in connection with the application of atomic energy
Decree of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism 62/1997. (IX. 26.) on the geological and mining requirements for the siting and planning of nuclear facilities and radioactive waste disposal facilities
Joint Decree of the Minister of Industry, Trade and Tourism and the Minister of Education
49/1998. (VI. 25.) on the professional training and further education of those employed at the nuclear power plant, or at the research reactor, or at the training reactor, and on those who are entitled to pursue activities connected with the application of nuclear energy
Decree of the Minister of Economy 27/1999. (IV. 4.) on the fees for final disposal of radioactive wastes
Decree of the Minister of Health 16/2000. (VI. 8.) on the execution of certain provisions of Act CXVI of 1996 on Atomic Energy associated with radiological protection
Decree of the Minister of Environment 15/2001. (VI. 6.) on the radioactive releases into the air and into the water in connection with the application of atomic energy, and on their control
Decree of the Minister of Health 30/2001. (X. 3.) on the operational radiological protection of the outside workers
Decree of the Minister of Health 31/2001. (X. 3.) on the protection of the health of individuals exposed to ionising radiation during medical services
Decree of the Minister of Health 8/2002. (III. 12.) on the establishment and operation of radiological monitoring and data collecting network in the health-care sector
Decree of the Minister of Defence 33/2002. (V. 3.) on the application of Act CXVI of 1996 on atomic energy regarding national defence issues
Decree of the Minister of Health, Social and Family Affairs 47/2003. (VIII. 8.) on certain issues of interim storage and final disposal of radioactive wastes, and on certain radiohygiene issues of naturally occurring radioactive materials concentrating during industrial activity
Decree of the Minister of Interior 33/2004. (VI. 28.) on the central and local accountancy system for radioactive materials
Decree of the Minister of Interior 41/2004. (VII.7) on the operation and administration of the Central Nuclear Financial Fund
Decree of the Minister of Justice 14/2005 (VII. 25.) on the operation and administration of the Central Nuclear Financial Fund
As of 1 January 1998, the Atomic Energy Act established the Central Nuclear Financial Fund based on the payments by parties using atomic energy. The goal of this fund is to finance the disposal of radioactive waste, the interim storage and final disposal of spent fuel, and to finance the decommissioning (dismantling) of nuclear facilities. Pursuant to the Act on Atomic Energy, a body designated by the government shall be responsible for performing these activities, financed from the Central Nuclear Financial Fund. Based on the authorisation of the government, HAEA has established the Public Agency for Radioactive Waste Management (PURAM) for this purpose. PURAM is also responsible for the operation of the Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility in Püspökszilágy and the Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISFS) located near to the Paks Nuclear Power Plant.
The minister supervising the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority has jurisdiction over the Central Nuclear Financial Fund and the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority itself is responsible for its administration. Since 10 November 2004 the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority has been supervised on behalf of the government by the Minister of Justice and Law Enforcement.
The fund is a separate state fund pursuant to Act XXXVIII of 1992 on Public Finance, exclusively earmarked for financing the construction and operation of disposal facilities for the final disposal of radioactive waste, as well as for the interim storage and final disposal of spent fuel, and the decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
A long-term plan (lasting up to the decommissioning of the various nuclear facilities), a medium-term plan (for five years), and an annual work schedule on the use of the Fund are being prepared by the Public Agency for Radioactive Waste Management. The long- and medium-term plans are to be reviewed annually and revised as required.
The long- and medium-term plans and the annual work schedule are to be approved by the Minister supervising the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority.
The payments into the fund are defined in accordance with these plans. The annual payments into the fund by Paks Nuclear Power Plant are proposed by the Minister supervising the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority, in the course of the preparation of the Act on the Central Budget. Payments are based upon submittals prepared by the Public Agency for Radioactive Waste Management and approved by the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority and by the Hungarian Energy Office. Payments by Paks Nuclear Power Plant are taken into account when the price of electric energy is being determined. The budget of the fund is approved by Parliament as part of the Act on the Central Budget.
The institutes disposing radioactive waste in the Radioactive Waste Treatment and Disposal Facility are also liable to contribute to the fund in accordance with the official price list contained in a ministerial decree.
For nuclear installations financed from the central budget (research reactor and training reactor), the sources required to cover the payment into the fund are provided by the central budget, when they arise.
The rate of payments into the Fund shall be specified in such a way as to provide appropriate sources for all costs of radioactive waste and spent fuel management and the decommissioning of nuclear facilities. These sources also provide coverage for public control and information activities as well as for the operational expenses of the existing repository.
In order to ensure that the fund maintains its value, the government contributes to the fund with a sum that is calculated on the average assets of the Fund in the previous year using the average base interest rate of the central bank in the previous year. This practice was interrupted for 2001-2002, but it was restored again as of 2003.
For additional information on the Hungarian radioactive waste management programme please see the website of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (www.haea.gov.hu).
In April 2008 a decision on a new energy policy concept for the period of 2008-2020 was accepted by parliament. The main goals of the policy included improving security supply, competitiveness and sustainability. As concerns the future of nuclear energy, according to the decision of parliament the government should start working on the preparation of the decision on new nuclear capacity for the replacement of the old plants and the proposal should be submitted to pParliament in time. The government should create the necessary conditions for the implementation of the programmes aimed at the final disposal of radioactive waste. The government should inform pParliament on the implementation of energy policy at least in every two years.
In 2005, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority issued a license in principle for the upgrading of the nominal power by about 8%. This upgrading is planned to be realised step-by-step on the units, starting with Unit 4 in 2006 and finishing with Unit 3 in 2009.
In November 2005, Hungarian Parliament, by its resolution 85/2005. (XI. 23.) OGY, took note of the planned life-extension of the units. In accordance with the resolution, nuclear energy is considered as a long-term and safe solution for meeting the country's electric energy demands.
In 1995 a programme was launched for solving the disposal of high-level and long-lived radioactive wastes. (Even if spent fuel from the Paks nuclear power plant can later be shipped back to Russia a domestic repository must be created for other high-level waste, including decommissioning waste). The programme mainly focuses on investigations in the area of the Boda Clay stone Formation. An underground laboratory is to operate from 2017 to 2032, and the repository is due to be operated by the end of the 2040s.
For low and intermediate level radioactive waste management, explorations have been carried out in the vicinity of Bátaapáti (about 45 km south-west of Paks). Reflecting the results of the extensive research work carried out the Hungarian Geological Survey declared the site as geologically suitable for housing a repository. In November 2005, Hungarian Parliament, by its resolution 85/2005. (XI. 23.) OGY, gave its preliminary approval in principle (a formal requirement in accordance with Act on Atomic Energy).
The fact that 96.6 % of the lawmakers voted in favour of the joint resolution about the life-extension and the waste repository, clearly shows that in these questions there is a broad political consensus in Hungary. Prior to the vote in parliament, 91% of Bátaapáti residents voted in favour of having the repository in a local referendum.
The consequences of the April 2003 serious incident at the Paks NPP were eliminated and the damaged fuel was removed according to the planned schedule. On 15 October 2006 specialists of the Paks NPP and the Russian company TVEL started the elimination process and by 29 January 2007 the damaged fuel elements were removed from the cleaning tank in Shaft No. 1 on Unit 2. After the decontamination activity performed by specialists of the Slovakian company VUJE the decontamination process was completed and the cleaning tank was removed. At the end of April 2007 Shaft No. 1 was put back into operation.
Nuclear waste management issues
The Spent Fuel Interim Storage Facility has been operating since 1997. The facility in the neighbourhood of the Paks NPP is a so-called modular vault dry storage type system allowing safe storage of spent fuels for 50 years. In 2007, the enlargement of the Spent Fuel Interim Storage Facility was successfully continued with five further storage modules put into operation. The currently available storage capacity is 16 modules each able to accommodate 450 fuel assemblies. 5107 spent fuel assemblies were stored in the facility in December 2007.
In 2005, after a decade spent with siting activities in the vicinity of Bátaapáti (Tolna County) for a L/ILW geological repository, the Hungarian Parliament gave the green light for construction. In 2007 the programme progressed according to plan. Underground research and licensing activities, as well as construction work were carried out. The investment is facilitated by the Government Decree No. 257/2006. (XII. 15.) Korm. declaring that the licensing procedure of the repository is of utmost importance. The Decree requires priority for the licensing procedure and shortens the deadlines. In 2007, after a year-long licensing procedure the environmental licence entered into force.
Public acceptability of nuclear power
According to the opinion poll (conducted in 2007) 75% of the Hungarian population agreed with the operation of Paks NPP and only 22% were opposed to it; 60% supported its life-extension and 30% were against.
Appendix 1 - International, Multilateral and Bilateral Agreements
Nuclear facts and figures for OECD countries
Number of nuclear units connected to the grid; Nuclear electricity generation (net TWh); Nuclear percentage of total electricity supply.
IEA energy statistics: Hungary
Data available in the following areas: Coal, oil and gas use; Electricity production, supply and consumption; Heat production, supply and consumption; Graphs of sectorial final consumption by source in 1973 and 2001.
The Decommissioning and Dismantling of Nuclear Facilities in OECD/NEA Member Countries: Hungary
This compilation of national fact sheets is intended to serve as an authoritative source of reference information on individual NEA member countries. In this context, the term "nuclear facility" includes all facilities associated with the production of nuclear power, from mining of uranium, through fabrication of nuclear fuel, nuclear power plant operation, fuel reprocessing and waste management, including related R&D facilities, and research and demonstration reactors.
Nuclear Legislation in OECD Countries: Hungary
Regulatory and Institutional Framework for Nuclear Activities
Each country profile in this valuable reference work provides a detailed review of a full range of nuclear law topics. These include: the general regulatory regime, including mining; radioactive substances and equipment; nuclear installations; trade in nuclear materials; radiological protection; radioactive waste management; non-proliferation and physical protection; transport; and nuclear third party liability.
Energy for a Changing World
A website of the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport.
Nuclear Energy Data
Nuclear Energy Data is the NEA’s annual compilation of essential statistics on electricity generation and nuclear power in OECD countries. The reader will have quick and easy reference to the status of and projected trends in total electricity generating capacity, nuclear generating capacity, and actual electricity production, as well as to supply and demand for nuclear fuel cycle services.
This is an edited extract from the IAEA Country Nuclear Power Profiles. The complete entry is available from the IAEA.
Last updated: 24 June 2008
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