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Hungary’s New Government Will Review Russia-Backed Nuclear Project. Hungary’s incoming government has announced a review of the €12.5 billion expansion of the Paks nuclear power plant, raising doubts about one of the country’s biggest energy projects. The extension was awarded in 2014 to Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom without an open tender and is financed largely by the Russian government. István Kapitány, nominated as economy and energy minister in Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s new government, said officials would reassess the project’s financing, timeline and overall costs. He also called for greater transparency around contracts linked to the project, many of which have remained classified for years under the previous government. The review reflects a broader effort by Hungary’s new leadership to distance itself from the Russia-friendly policies of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Although the government has not said it will cancel the expansion, officials signalled they want a more balanced foreign and energy policy after years of close cooperation with Moscow. Supporters of the project argue the new reactors are essential for Hungary’s energy security, while critics see the deal as a symbol of political dependence on Russia.
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