Hungary to finish Paks II audit by year-end, project chief says

Hungary intends to complete its audit of the Paks II nuclear power plant construction project by the end of this year, the project's chief executive said on 14 November in Antalya.

Attila Sagodi, chairman of the board and CEO of Paks II, said the review covers the design, the readiness of design documentation, the work schedule and the project's financial, technological and legal aspects. "We plan to complete the audit by the end of this year," he said, after which the government will decide whether any areas need deeper examination.

Sagodi, who took over the project four months ago, said Hungary's new government is closely interested in Paks II but does not yet have all the information it needs. He described it as an extremely complex undertaking and effectively the largest project in Hungary, and said officials are gathering data before choosing a course.

Financing remains a complex question, he said, going beyond whether the government will provide funding. The engineering, procurement and construction contract imposes obligations on all parties, so the government cannot simply proceed as it wishes.

An EPC contract is a turnkey arrangement under which a single general contractor handles the entire project, from preparing design documentation and supplying equipment to construction and commissioning.