Work begins on key reactor components for a major European nuclear project
Metallurgists at AEM-Spetsstal (part of Rosatom’s Machine Building Division) have started shaping the first key components of the reactor vessel for Unit 6 of Hungary’s Paks II nuclear power plant (NPP). The heavy-duty steel parts — weighing around 600 tonnes — are being processed in St. Petersburg, Russia, as part of a major international clean energy initiative, using the latest Russian design.
The forging process took place in the presence of representatives of the foreign customer.
“The Paks II Nuclear Power Plant project is the largest nuclear investment in the European Union. With the construction of two new power units in Paks, we will be able to produce a significant amount of electricity in a sustainable manner for Hungary’s economy through the end of this century. The long-cycle equipment production is progressing steadily, thanks to significant efforts by Hungarian specialists – from design supervision to licensing and ongoing production monitoring. A tangible result of this is that forging of the Unit 6 reactor vessel has now begun, while the final acceptance of the Unit 5 reactor shell is scheduled for this month,” said Gergely Jákli, President and CEO of Paks II Ltd.
“The Paks II project is progressing according to schedule. The start of long-cycle equipment production for Unit 6, just a year after similar work began for Unit 5, clearly reflects this,” noted Vitaly Polyanin, Vice President of JSC ASE and Project Director for the Paks Nuclear Power Plant construction.
The Paks II plant is being built with the VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactor – a state-of-the-art design known for its enhanced safety and reliability. These reactors are expected to supply clean electricity to Hungary for decades, strengthening national energy security and reducing carbon emissions.
“We have started work on the ‘heart’ of the nuclear power plant – a Generation III+ reactor – for another unit in Hungary. Russian metallurgists and engineers have reached high production rates for Paks II equipment. Forging is currently underway for both Unit 5 and Unit 6 reactors. In the near future, we will begin manufacturing steam generators, pressurisers, safety system tanks, and other primary circuit components, as well as equipment for the turbine hall. To ensure timely and high-quality equipment production, several of our facilities in Moscow, Podolsk, St. Petersburg, Petrozavodsk, and Volgodonsk will be involved,” stated Igor Kotov, Head of Rosatom’s Machine-Building Division.
The Paks II project is based on a Russian-Hungarian intergovernmental agreement signed in 2014. The Hungarian regulator granted the main construction license in 2022, confirming compliance with both national and EU safety standards. VVER-1200 units are already in operation in Russia and Belarus, proving the technology’s maturity and export potential.
The milestone in Hungary highlights Rosatom’s role as a global energy partner. Alongside its work in Europe, the company is actively engaged in nuclear development projects across Africa. In Egypt, Rosatom is constructing the continent’s first large-scale NPP El-Dabaa. It has also signed intergovernmental agreements with countries such as Ghana and Nigeria to support nuclear infrastructure development and explore opportunities for future power generation. With rising electricity demand and the need for climate-resilient infrastructure, Rosatom’s expertise offers African nations a path toward stable, long-term energy solutions.
