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Euratom approves nuclear fuel supplies from Russia to new units at Hungary’s Paks NPP

European Union demanded that fuel supplies under the plant’s modernization project were executed in accordance with the EU rules on state purchase

VIENNA, April 21. /TASS/. The European Atomic Energy Community (EAEC or Euratom) has approved a contract for the supplies of nuclear fuel from Russia to two new units of Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant to be built by Russia’s Rosatom, Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Office Jбnos Lбzбr said on Monday.

The Hungarian government however continues consultations with the European Commission to ascertain that the deal with Russia fits into the European requirements, he told MTI news agency.

Lazar said the European Union demanded that fuel supplies under the plant’s modernization project were executed in accordance with the EU rules on state purchase. "It meets Hungary’s plans and interests," he underscored.

He said the Hungarian government had managed to persuade the European Commission that Hungary’s contract with Russia was geared towards enhancing Europe’s energy security and in no way was making Budapest more dependent on Moscow. In was a "serious success" of the Hungarian cabinet, Lazar stressed.

Earlier on Monday, a European source told TASS Euratom had withdrawn its objections to the imports of Russian nuclear fuel to the reactors after the term of exclusive supplies of this fuel was reduced from 20 to 10 years. The source said that the European regulator was yet to officially approve the project.

In late 2014, Russia and Hungary signed a general framework agreement to build two new units of the Paks nuclear power plant. Paks is Hungary’s sole nuclear power plant with four VVER-440 reactors. Its first unit was launched in 1982.