Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The first large-sized equipment – the core catcher, which is part of the NPP passive safety system, was delivered to the construction site of Paks NPP (Hungary) new power units on 1 August 2024.

The components of the core catcher for Paks NPP Unit 5 were transported from Russia by water, from Volgodonsk to Paks. The transportation lasted for 48 days, in total the vessels covered 3200 km.

“It is symbolic that the first large-sized equipment which arrived at Paks-2 NPP construction site is an element of the passive safety system. Thus, reliability and safety of the new Hungarian NPP is provided long before the commencement of its operation. We are making every effort so that at the end of 2024 – beginning of 2025 we can start the construction of the power units and subsequent installation of the core catcher – an important element of the passive safety system of the new Hungarian NPP,” said Vitaly Polyanin, Vice President of ASE JSC, Director of Paks NPP Construction Project.

Preparatory works for construction of Unit 5, for which the core catcher is intended, are being performed according to the schedule. Currently, soil stabilization is nearing completion, preparation for ground extraction from the pit to the design elevation of 23 meters is underway, which is a pre-condition for beginning the preparation of the foundation slab and subsequent large-scale works for construction of the new power facility.

Paks-2 NPP is an international project. Besides Russian and Hungarian companies, European companies and companies from third countries are involved in works at the construction site.

“Our common goal with the general contractor is construction of a safe nuclear power plant within the shortest possible period. We have covered important stages: last year we built a 2.7-km waterproofing, soil stabilization continues, ground excavation to the design level began with tests. We are increasing the pace of work at the site and in the area of the construction and erection base. Currently, 900 specialists are engaged at the site,” said Gergely Jákli, President and Director General of Paks II Zrt.

The device for catching the molten core material (“core catcher”) is a Russian design, a most important element of the safety system of 3+ generation NPPs. It is a cone-shaped structure made of thermally resistant steel. The core catcher is installed at the bottom of the reactor concrete shaft, directly under the reactor. The core catcher is filled with the so-called sacrificial material which, in a highly unlikely emergency situation, prevents the reactor core molten radioactive material from escaping into the environment.

The Paks-II NPP project is being implemented on the basis of the Russian-Hungarian Intergovernmental Agreement dated January 14, 2014 and three basic contracts for construction of the new NPP. The main license for construction of Paks II NPP was issued by the Hungarian regulatory authority in August 2022. Paks II NPP with two VVER-1200 power units of 3+ generation will be built on a turn-key basis. The guaranteed lifetime of the new Hungarian power units is 60 years. Paks II NPP is the first Russian project in the European Union. The obtained construction license confirms that up-to-date Gen 3+ VVER 1200 power units designed in Russia meet the most stringent international and European safety requirements. Paks NPP operates 4 VVER-440 reactors, which generate over half of the electricity produced in Hungary.

The Rosatom Engineering Division unites the leading companies of the nuclear industry, namely: Atomstroyexport JSC (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, branch offices in Russia and abroad), Joint Design Institute – Atomenergoproekt JSC (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, and St. Petersburg branch offices and design institutes, branch offices in Russia and abroad, R&D branches) and subsidiary construction companies. The Engineering Division ranks first in the world by the order portfolio and the number of NPPs constructed simultaneously across the world. About 80% of the Division’s revenues originate from foreign projects. The Engineering Division implements construction projects for high-power NPPs in Russia and across the world, renders a full range of EPC, EP, EPC(M) services including project management and design activities, and develops Multi-D technologies for the management of complex engineering facilities. The Division relies on the achievements of the Russian nuclear industry and modern cutting-edge technologies.