(328.3278) WISE Amsterdam - The offers come from Siemens-KWU, Westinghouse, Ontario Hydro and Electricite de France (EdF). The offer from EdF was interesting enough for them that they informed the other companies that they were welcome to submit new offers, taking into account the proposal from EdF. The offer was interesting because Edf agrees to build, within six years, two 1000 MW reactors at Paks, next to the already existing four reactors. The French will cover 70% of the total budget and the proposed contract allows a lot of Hungarian firms to participate (ie. EdF will provide money and machinery and Hungarian firms can take part in construction).
Because even Hungarian official opinion on energy demands over the next decade says that Hungary doesn't need energy from the proposed nuclear plants, the energy produced would be sold in Europe. Hungarian governmental circles find it very charming that such energy exports could be combined with the joining of the UECPT (the West European Electricity network) grid, which differs, in technical points from the existing East European grids.
Hungary at present is very strongly energy dependent on the USSR. This state of affairs, however, has to change in the coming years, even according to Hungarian officials. There is a real danger that after the government changes (upcoming elections are in March), the new government will agree on this new nuclear policy. The Ministry of Industry has already been given the task to report to the government by the middle of the summer on the Ministry's recommendation of which of the proposals by the four firms it prefers. Construction is expected to begin in 1992.
Ecologists in Hungary would appreciate any relevant information on the companies involved. If you have such material, please send it to the address below.
Source and Contact: Zsuzsa Foltanyi, 1112 Budapest, Olt Utca 21, Hungary, tel: 11859247.
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