Rosatom eyes Paks upgrade dispute

Budapest, November 20 (MTI) – Russian atomic energy company Rosatom is following developments in the dispute over Hungary’s planned upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant.

Rosatom issued the statement late on Thursday after the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Hungary for failing to comply with European Union rules on public procurements and awarding a contract to Rosatom for the upgrade of the Paks plant without calling a tender.

The contract was awarded in the framework of an intergovernmental agreement between Hungary and Russia in which Russia agreed to finance the upgrade.

Rosatom said that it is fulfilling all of its obligations related to the upgrade, in line with the intergovernmental agreement and the contracts signed on the basis of that agreement. It completely backs the standpoint of government office chief Janos Lazar on the matter, the company added.

Lazar said the government would consult with Brussels in the next couple of months over the 12 billion euro project but ultimately Hungary was ready to defend its position in court. The European Commission does not have the right to prohibit commercial agreements with non-European Union countries such as Russia, China or Arab countries, Lazar told a press briefing.

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters